Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and a 40 percent rating for lower back strain. The ratings for right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy were also adjusted, with TDIU granted.

The Board remands the claims for further development and a new examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's lumbar stenosis with spondylolisthesis at L5-S1 and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's low back and left ankle disabilities, granted a 20% rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy from April 14, 2023, to October 11, 2023, and granted an earlier effective date of January 14, 2016, for the grant of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for chronic sinusitis, CFS, fibromyalgia, IBS, and bilateral hand tremors under the PACT Act. Service connection was also granted for right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to a service-connected back disability. The claims for increased ratings were denied, and several other claims were remanded.

The Board remands the veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right shoulder disability, depression, and tinnitus due to duty to assist errors prior to the April 2024 rating decision.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and sciatica of the left lower extremity, finding that the evidence does not support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board granted a disability rating of 30 percent for chronic gastritis and GERD, effective January 11, 2021.

The issues of service connection for degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine; right leg radiculopathy; and degenerative arthritis, cervical spine are dismissed as the Board granted service connection in a separate appeal stream.

The Board granted a rating of 30 percent for the Veteran's cervical spine disability and a rating of 40 percent for his radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board is remanding the matters for clarification from the private examiner as to whether a goniometer was used, and will defer further adjudication until such clarification is provided.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings of service-connected left and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted an effective date of February 24, 2023, for the award of service connection for left upper extremity radiculopathy and a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied an increased rating for lumbosacral strain but granted service connection for radiculopathy in both lower extremities associated with the lumbosacral strain.

The Board denied increased ratings for migraines and lumbar spondylosis, granted a 40% rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy, and granted TDIU and earlier effective dates for special monthly compensation and Dependents' Educational Assistance.

The Board denied the claims for an earlier effective date as no new and relevant evidence was received to reopen or readjudicate the claims.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and hysterectomy (previously rated as disease or injury of the uterus) were granted, while other claims for service connection were remanded. An increased rating to 30 percent was also granted for the hysterectomy.

The Board granted increased ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome, left and right ankle disabilities but remanded the claims for other joint conditions due to insufficient evidence.

The Board remands multiple claims for higher initial ratings and other benefits due to the need for additional development, including an examination regarding atrophy in the Veteran's legs.

The Board denied service connection for a vision disability, to include hyperopia and presbyopia, and remanded several other claims including those for kidney, hypertension, sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, lower extremity neuropathy, hip, knee, heart, neck, upper extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU.

The appeal was dismissed by the Veteran's request in a statement submitted on September 18, 2025.