Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2026

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right upper extremity and rhinitis (allergic) have been granted service connection, but an initial compensable evaluation for rhinitis is denied.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates have been dismissed as the benefits sought on appeal have already been granted in full.,Service connection has not been established for GERD, left ear hearing loss, or right lower extremity neuropathy.

The Veteran's appeal seeking an earlier effective date for a 40 percent rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity based on CUE in a June 6, 2019, rating decision is dismissed as it is duplicative of a previously denied claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities led to a TDIU effective January 23, 2016. The VA also granted Dependents' Educational Assistance under Chapter 35 (DEA) for the same date.

The Veteran's claim for higher SMC based on loss of use of both feet and need for regular aid and attendance was denied as the Board found that assigning separate ratings for these conditions would violate pyramiding rules due to overlapping service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including shoulder, back, neck, and extremity radiculopathy, were denied. The effective dates of any subsequent grants of service connection are not earlier than October 24, 2006.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address pre-decisional duty to assist errors and remands the case for further action.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy was denied. The reduction of the rating for lumbar strain from 40% to 20% was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal includes requests for separate compensable ratings based on neuritis and neuralgia associated with his service-connected sciatic nerve radiculopathy in both lower extremities. The Board finds these issues are remanded due to the need to consider additional evidence.

The Veteran's death was caused by heart failure, which the Board finds may be service-connected through secondary service connection due to obesity resulting from his service-connected PTSD and back disability. However, VA failed to obtain a medical opinion addressing whether obesity is a substantial factor in causing heart failure.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection on asthma, sleep apnea, lower back injury, and left lower extremity sciatica/radiculopathy.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including hip disabilities and radiculopathies, have been granted with effective dates of November 12, 2020.,Claims for earlier effective dates were denied for prostate cancer, reduction of the penis with erectile dysfunction (as secondary to prostate cancer), asthma, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral knees, hypertension, stable angina, and CFS.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for their right thumb disability, bilateral pes planus, spondylolisthesis (back disability), residual arthritis of the left wrist, radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve of the right and left lower extremities, and laceration scar of the third digit of the right hand. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Board denied a TDIU due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities not preventing him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and tinnitus. The Board found no current diagnosis of these conditions in the record, except for a finding of left lumbar radiculopathy (sciatic), which was granted based on direct service connection due to an in-service back injury.

The Veteran was awarded a TDIU effective February 25, 2017, due to his service-connected back and lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain is granted. The Board also remanded the issue of secondary service connection for right leg pain, as there was insufficient medical opinion regarding its etiology.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for an initial rating greater than 20 percent for degenerative disc disease other than IVDS, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to a duty to assist error. The AOJ will provide the Veteran with a VA Back Conditions and a VA Peripheral Nerves examination to determine the severity of his disabilities while discounting the ameliorative effects of medication.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's neck condition and right upper extremity radiculopathy are etiologically related to service, granting his claims for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including partial amputation of the left foot and related conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.