Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2026

The Veteran's right shoulder, left knee, and back conditions have been granted service connection. Service connection for sciatica of the left lower extremities has also been granted. The Veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome claim was denied.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including back condition, right hip condition, left hip condition, right knee condition, left knee condition, right ankle condition, left ankle condition, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The Veteran's claim for headaches secondary to PTSD with a persistent depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and insomnia is granted.,The Board has also dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection of right carpal tunnel syndrome and left carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection was denied. The rating for PTSD with MDD and psychotic features remains at 100 percent, the maximum allowed under VA regulations. The IBS rating is also denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. Service connection for radiculopathy of the RUE and back disability were both denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has granted an effective date of November 7, 2013 for the award of service connection for bilateral lower extremity sciatic nerve dysfunction. The condition is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease, along with other disabilities, rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment prior to June 10, 2024. The appeal for a higher rating for coronary artery disease was denied.

The Veteran's service connection for allergic rhinitis is granted. The claims of service connection for bilateral pes planus, right and left upper extremity radiculopathy, and right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as sleep apnea secondary to a service-connected disability. The Veteran's lay statements of record will be considered in formulating opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for a peripheral nerves examination to determine the current severity of the service-connected LLE radiculopathy. The Veteran's appeal is also remanded for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy/neuropathy due to concerns raised in a Joint Motion for Partial Remand (JMPR). The case will be returned to the AOJ with consideration of whether the Veteran's reported symptoms result in functional impairment of earning capacity, which is separate and distinct from his service-connected peripheral artery disease of the left lower extremity.

The Veteran's PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and related neuropathies have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since June 21, 2018. The effective date for the TDIU is set as of that date.

The Board denied service connection for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and dismissed the appeal for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and radiculopathy prior to February 11, 2021. The claim is remanded for further examination.

The Board has restored the Veteran's bilateral sciatica lower extremity ratings from 20% to 20%, effective November 1, 2020. The reduction was improper due to insufficient evidence of material improvement.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA effective dates are being remanded due to the inextricability of these claims with his other service-connected disabilities. The AOJ must first adjudicate his left knee, low back, and RLE radiculopathy claims before addressing his TDIU and DEA earlier effective date claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran meets the requirement of having incurred a serious injury on or after September 11, 2001, for PCAFC eligibility. The appeal is remanded to allow further processing and development of the claim.

The Veteran's claim for a 40% disability rating for lumbosacral strain with myalgia and myositis was granted effective August 21, 2023.,Service connection for left lumbar radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve was granted effective August 17, 2023.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity superficial and deep peroneal nerves of the sciatic nerve branch is granted a 10 percent rating effective August 21, 2023.

The Board denied service connection for left upper extremity radiculopathy as it is not secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's disability ratings for lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral and sciatic nerves), cervical strain, and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy have been restored. Effective April 2, 2023, the Veteran is granted a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because the Board Appeal request was not timely filed within one year of the rating decision, and no good cause for extension was presented.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, right and left lower extremity radiculopathies, and common peroneal and superficial peroneal radiculopathies have been granted initial ratings. The Veteran's deep peroneal radiculopathy has also been granted an initial rating.