Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2026

The Veteran's service-connected lower back disability and radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities have been granted initial ratings of 20 percent each, subject to regulations governing the payment of monetary awards.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, femoral nerve are denied as the earliest evidence indicating these conditions is from August 21, 2020.

The Board has granted service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy on a secondary basis to the Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease and lumbar degenerative arthritis. However, it denied service connection for back muscle weakness as there is no separate condition found.

The Veteran's appeals to restore disability ratings for right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cognitive disorder is dismissed as the Veteran requested its withdrawal during the Board hearing.,Service connection for cervical radiculopathy of the left upper extremity and cervicalgia was denied due to lack of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left lower extremity sciatica, secondary to a knee disability and for TDIU due to his bilateral knee disabilities. The decision found that there was no evidence of a primary service-connected disability causing or aggravating the claimed condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder (MDD with GAD) are being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The effective date for MDD with GAD is currently set at March 21, 2024, but the Board finds that an earlier effective date may be warranted if service connection can be established on a different basis.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve in both lower extremities has been granted an increased rating to 40 percent effective May 20, 2022.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, lumbosacral spinal stenosis with degenerative arthritis, cervical stenosis with hypertrophic arthropathy, and associated radiculopathy, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow any form of substantially gainful employment prior to April 16, 2023. Basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance was also established.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him so helpless as to need regular aid and attendance of another person, granting entitlement to SMC at the (l) rate.

Service connection is granted for a lower back disability, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve as secondary to the lower back condition, and migraines.,The Veteran's service-connected lower back disability includes symptoms of left and right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve.

The Veteran's back condition, including ankylosing spondylitis and osteoarthritis of the spine, is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's left lower extremity sciatica and right lower extremity sciatica are both found to be secondary to his service-connected back condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral upper extremity sensory-motor peripheral neuropathy and carpal tunnel syndrome due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran's cervical spine disability is service-connected, but there is no opinion on whether his upper extremity conditions are related to this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lower extremity radiculopathy and right lower extremity radiculopathy, meet the criteria for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disability, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), finding that a continuity of symptomatology links his current disabilities to his in-service injury.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and special monthly compensation have been remanded due to procedural errors and incomplete development.

The Veteran's left lower extremity neurologic disorder is now rated at 40 percent, and he is eligible for SMC based on loss of use of the left foot. However, he does not meet criteria for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy claims are remanded due to inadequate examination and consideration of medication effects.

The Veteran's appeals for a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) prior to February 11, 2021 are dismissed as the issues remain pending in the Legacy system.