Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2026

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his in-service injury.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and medical opinions to determine the severity of his back scars, lumbar spine disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and SMC based on aid and attendance.

The Board has granted restoration of the 40 percent ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, effective December 18, 2024. The appellant's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board has determined that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating. The claims for increased ratings of lumbar spine disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new examination is required to determine if any current thoracolumbar spine disability, including degenerative arthritis, intervertebral disc syndrome, scoliosis, and lumbar radiculopathy, are related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has granted service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity, left upper extremity, and cubital tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity. The Veteran's disabilities are related to his military occupational specialty as an air traffic controller.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy as there is no diagnosed condition of record and the November 2023 VA examination report did not document any symptoms related to radiculopathy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, granting his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's lumbar spine DDD, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic and femoral nerves), and back scar status post laminectomy are all granted effective December 22, 2013.,Basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) is also granted effective December 22, 2013.

The Veteran's bilateral shoulder, hip, back, and lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities are all found to be related to service. The Veteran's hypertension is also found to be related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development to obtain adequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected thoracic spondylosis caused or aggravated her claimed cervical strain and left and right leg radiculopathy.

The Veteran's back disability, diagnosed as lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with radiculopathy and degenerative facet joint changes, is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error in the October 2020 VA opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine and lower extremity radiculopathy conditions, including during flare-ups and after repetitive use over time.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome and radiculopathy, as well as left shoulder tendinopathy.,Service connection for hypertension as proximately due to posttraumatic stress disorder was also granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings of her bilateral lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy due to inadequate examination and incomplete evaluation.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve in both lower extremities is rated at 20 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted for any period on appeal.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates in several cases, including those related to essential tremors, femoral nerve radiculopathy, sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and obstructive sleep apnea. The effective date for service connection of these conditions is set at January 4, 2022.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy are not rated higher than the current levels.

The Veteran's lower extremity radiculopathy was evaluated as moderate incomplete paralysis prior to January 17, 2019. The Board found the evidence against a finding of severe incomplete paralysis for this period and thus denied higher evaluations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a special home adaptation grant as they do not result in anatomical loss or use of both hands, blindness in both eyes, deep partial thickness burns, full thickness or subdermal burns, or residuals of an inhalation injury.