Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2026

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, headaches, and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability.,The Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service injuries and duties, with ongoing symptoms since service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right and left knee degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine stenosis and DDD, left lower extremity radiculopathy, left shoulder bicipital tendonitis, cervical spine DDD, stenosis and facet arthropathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy have all been granted. The claims are based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain was denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy was also denied.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities have been granted initial ratings of 20 percent each, effective April 19, 2023.

The Veteran's right upper extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 20%, but the Board has determined that a higher rating of 40% is warranted based on moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Veteran's tinnitus, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, pain of the cervical and cervicothoracic region, cervicogenic headaches, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and right upper extremity radiculopathy are all granted as service-connected.,Service connection is established for these conditions based on direct evidence showing their onset during active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, and the Board denied his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's rating for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine was restored to 20 percent effective October 31, 2024. Other claims were denied or granted with specific ratings.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis, intervertebral disc syndrome, lumbar spine and left sciatic nerve radiculopathy and pain are granted service connection. The right sciatic nerve radiculopathy and pain is also granted service connection. Service connection for the cervical spine condition is denied.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 40 percent, and he was granted higher ratings for his sciatic nerve radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities as well as his femoral nerve radiculopathy. He also received a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2 and its associated complications (diabetic nephropathy, diabetic peripheral neuropathies of the bilateral lower and upper extremities) as presumptively related to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The effective date was set at March 14, 2022.

The Veteran's radiculopathy conditions have been granted increased ratings, with the right and left lower extremities receiving a rating of 60 percent each. The Veteran's post-surgery scars are also rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral shin splints, and knee injuries, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since August 9, 2019. The Board has granted TDIU on this basis.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and service connection were dismissed due to concurrent election of review options.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disability and right upper extremity radiculopathy, both secondary to his service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's LLE and RLE sciatic radiculopathy, as well as her RLE femoral radiculopathy have been granted initial 20 percent ratings since March 15, 2022.

The Veteran's right knee, lumbar spine, and radiculopathy disabilities are currently rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations. The Board finds no basis to grant higher ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, and the earlier effective date for DEA benefits is remanded.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with spinal stenosis and IVDS, along with left and right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, are all granted as service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with associated left and right lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities render him unemployable, allowing for a TDIU rating.