Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board granted an initial disability rating of 70 percent, but no higher, for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) based on the severity and frequency of symptoms that more closely approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board granted a 40 percent disability rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with herniated disc at L3-L5 and IVDS, denied ratings in excess of 10 percent for left ankle sprain and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and granted earlier effective dates for service connection for certain conditions.

The Board granted service connection for left shoulder strain, left leg radiculopathy as secondary to lumbosacral strain, and right leg radiculopathy as secondary to lumbosacral strain. The Board also granted an increased disability rating of 40 percent for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain.

The appeal for service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal. The claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and sleep disturbances were remanded.

The Board granted an initial evaluation of 20 percent for the left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain and denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy, while denying service connection for hearing loss.

The Board denied an increased rating for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms more closely approximated occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board dismissed the appeals for earlier effective dates of service connection for various radiculopathies and a scar, as the September 2024 Board decision was not properly appealed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae and service connection for dermatosis of the hands, but remanded the claim for service connection for a neurological condition.

The Board granted a disability rating of 20 percent for both the left and right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic) effective October 14, 2022.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, dismissed the claim for left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy of the lower radicular group, but granted service connection for a bilateral ankle, hip, and knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability and remanded claims for headaches, heart disease, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder, a left leg condition, a lumbar spine issue, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that these conditions are caused by the Veteran's service-connected back condition.

The Board denied service connection for rhinitis and a neck disability, but remanded claims for sleep apnea and sciatica due to insufficient evidence.

The Board granted initial 20% and later 40% evaluations for various radiculopathies and peripheral neuropathies based on the severity of symptoms.

The Veteran withdrew his entire appeal, and the Board dismissed all related issues.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the initial grants of service connection for radiculopathy of both lower extremities and denied increased ratings for radiculopathy and a compensable rating for hypertension.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection and remanded initial rating claims, except for an effective date of April 25, 1999, for left knee disability.

The Veteran is entitled to a rating of 40 percent disabled for service-connected radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, effective October 10, 2022.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of January 17, 2011, for the 40 percent rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity of the sciatic nerve.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability and right leg sciatica, finding that the Veteran's back disability caused his obesity, which in turn led to his back disability (via intermediate step), and that his back disability is also directly related to his hypertension. The right leg sciatica was found to be secondary to the back disability.