Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2026

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy are granted service connection.,Service connection for the Veteran's left hip and left knee disabilities is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, right and left sciatic nerve radiculopathy as proximately due to this condition, migraine headaches, dizziness, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a skin disability, and bilateral hearing loss. The remaining issues are remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine with degenerative arthritis, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, and right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted as it meets the criteria for direct service connection due to an in-service injury during combat operations.

The Board denied service connection for a back condition, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The Veteran was granted an initial 30 percent rating for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).,Service connection for IBS was established but the Veteran is seeking a higher rating.

The Veteran is granted SMC based on the need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected lumbar spine and lower extremity radiculopathy, which has rendered him in need of regular aid and assistance from another person.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and spinal stenosis, cervical spine DDD with cervical radiculopathy, and bilateral upper extremity CTS. Service connection is denied for a right thumb condition, right shoulder strain with osteoarthritis, and left and right upper extremity neurological disorders.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal seeking a rating in excess of 20 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic cough, claimed as shortness of breath, is granted. The Board found that the Veteran has a qualifying chronic disability (a MUCMI) and that her symptoms have persisted for at least six months. Service connection is therefore established.

The Veteran's service connection for HIV, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, migraine headaches, erectile dysfunction, and Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 was granted effective February 18, 2000.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve of the right lower extremity is now rated at 20 percent, effective June 20, 2022.

The Veteran's lumbosacral back strain with IVDS, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity are granted as service-connected.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for mood disorder due to chronic pain as secondary to his service-connected conditions of residuals right radial fracture, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has granted the appellant's claim for service connection for lumbar radiculopathy as secondary to his service-connected left leg disability. The medical evidence supports that the appellant's abnormal gait due to his service-connected leg disability caused irritation of the spine and subsequent onset of musculoskeletal pain in the lumbar region.

The Veteran's diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity involving the sciatic nerve is rated at 40 percent, but no higher.,The Veteran's diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity involving the sciatic nerve is rated at 40 percent, but no higher.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar degenerative arthritis with IVDS resulted in bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, which was granted increased ratings of 20% for LLE sciatic and femoral radiculopathy from March 11, 2020, and 30% for RLE sciatic and femoral radiculopathy from the same date.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete service records, specifically those related to the Veteran's periods of active duty with the Air Force Reserve and Montana Air National Guard. The VA is instructed to verify these periods and obtain any associated service documentation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for generalized anxiety disorder, tinnitus, left and right neuralgia sciatica, deviated septum, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The cases of left side and right side neuralgia sciatica, deviated septum, and GERD are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of tinnitus and a right-hand ligament disorder was dismissed due to untimeliness.,The Veteran's claim for service connection of thoracic strain with right lower extremity radiculopathy was granted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, along with associated radiculopathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities are remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The case is being returned for further development.

The Board dismissed the appeals as untimely due to failure to file a proper Notice of Disagreement within one year from the date of the March 2019 rating decision.