Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2026

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to his back disability. The decision also grants readjudication of the claim.

The Veteran's sinusitis is granted a 10% rating, effective May 1, 2018. The Board denied the claim for TDIU due to lack of substantial gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The low back disability was granted a 40 percent rating, but no higher. Other conditions had their ratings denied.

The Veteran's claim for a rating greater than 30 percent for his service-connected left shoulder disability is denied from March 8, 2024 to July 30, 2024. Service connection for the claimed 'muscle hernia' and low back disability are also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected radiculopathy, left and right lower extremities, are being remanded due to a duty to assist error in the March 2021 VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of July 15, 2013 for the grant of service connection for a left shoulder disability is granted. The initial rating for a left shoulder disability remains at 20 percent. The claim for TDIU earlier than September 25, 2020 is denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for ratings in excess of 10 percent for intervertebral disc syndrome, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to the Veteran's death during the appeal process.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and service connection have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals.

The Board has determined that the claim for eligibility to enroll in the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) is remanded due to insufficient evidence and lack of proper notice. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in a need for personal care services, but this determination was made without adequate medical justification or explanation.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 6, 2017, for the grant of service connection for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve is dismissed as moot due to the earlier established effective date in May 2005.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 16, 2017, for left lower extremity radiculopathy and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve is granted with an effective date of May 16, 2005. The claim for an effective date prior to October 6, 2017, for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy of the femoral nerve is also granted with an effective date of May 16, 2005.

The Veteran's RLE radiculopathy is granted an increased rating to 40 percent effective April 1, 2022. The LLE radiculopathy remains at a 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's IBS is granted with a 30 percent rating. His left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are both found to be secondary to his service-connected low back disability, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The Veteran's hypertension is remanded due to inadequate examination. Service connection for bilateral hip conditions is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, finding it secondary to the Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disorder.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than the specified dates have been dismissed due to their death.

The Veteran's micturition syncope, OSA, cervical spine condition, left shoulder cervical radiculopathy, and numbness and tingling right upper extremity have been granted service connection with a 10% disability rating for micturition syncope. The other conditions are also granted but no specific rating is assigned.

The Veteran is granted a higher level of SMC at the intermediary level N1/2 from October 20, 2020 to June 7, 2022. This decision resolves doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including obstructive sleep apnea and degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, have rendered him unemployable since at least 2019. The Board has granted a TDIU effective July 12, 2024.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy, service connection for left subtalar arthralgia, and total disability rating for compensation based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) because the appeal was not properly filed by a duly authorized representative.

The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy and PTSD are being remanded for further review. The Veteran is currently rated at 60 percent for his radiculopathy, but the Board finds that a higher rating may be warranted based on the severity of his symptoms. For PTSD, the Veteran is not entitled to an increased rating prior to January 17, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, left shoulder impingement, right shoulder impingement, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and left upper extremity radiculopathy have all been granted. A separate rating is also granted for left upper extremity radiculopathy.