Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment, and the TDIU claim is granted. The left elbow disability issue remains pending due to a lack of VA examination.

The Board dismissed all appeals related to the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, as well as his request to reopen a previously denied claim. The cause of death was listed as frontal lobe degeneration and Parkinson-like progressive motor degeneration.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for her service-connected lumbosacral strain is being remanded due to the need for a more contemporaneous examination and consideration of additional evidence.

The Board has granted an effective date of February 10, 2012 for the grant of service connection for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities (sciatic). The decision is based on the Veteran's informal claim received by VA on February 10, 2012.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy, increased ratings for bilateral knee chondromalacia, and an increased rating for lumbosacral degenerative disc disease. The evidence did not support higher or separate ratings for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar degenerative disc and joint disease, as well as bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, do not meet the schedular requirements for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability. However, given that he was granted Social Security benefits based on his back conditions, the Board has remanded the case for further consideration of an extraschedular award of individual unemployability benefits.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for right and left leg radiculopathy, as well as his service-connected spondylolisthesis and psychiatric disorder are denied. The case is remanded to obtain additional examinations and opinions regarding the severity of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for low back disability, radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities as secondary to a low back disability, and patellofemoral pain syndrome of both knees. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is rated at 20 percent effective March 31, 2009.

The appeal to reopen service connection for PTSD was granted, along with other claims related to various disabilities. The effective date remains pending as it is not specified in the decision.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, and his lumbar spine disability rating is remanded for further examination. Service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to the service-connected lumbar spine condition is also remanded.

The Veteran's right wrist brace, used for a service-connected disability, caused wear and tear to his clothing. The Veteran is granted an annual clothing allowance for the 2015 calendar year for this wrist brace. No clothing allowance is granted for the back brace due to lack of service connection.

The Veteran's left upper extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as his symptoms have been mild throughout the appeal period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a back disability due to lack of in-service incurrence or evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a bilateral foot disability. The issues on appeal include service connection for bilateral hip osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis with degenerative disc disease and facet arthropathy, radiculopathy, and a bilateral foot disability.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected lumbosacral degenerative joint disease with scoliosis and radiculopathy of the bilateral sciatic nerves.,Effective dates earlier than October 3, 2013, are granted for the Veteran's service connection claims for lumbosacral degenerative joint disease with scoliosis and IVDS, radiculopathy of the left sciatic nerve, and radiculopathy of the right sciatic nerve.

The Veteran's lumbar spine DJD and DDD, left lower extremity sciatic compression neuropathy, right lower extremity sciatic compression neuropathy, left lower extremity femoral compression neuropathy, and right lower extremity femoral compression neuropathy have been granted increased ratings of 40 percent each.

The Board has restored the service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy as the evidence does not establish that the original grant of service connection was clearly erroneous.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated as 60 percent disabling. The RO increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerves to 40 percent each, effective June 26, 2018.,Ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the femoral nerves were also increased to 20 percent each, effective June 26, 2018. Separate ratings of 30 percent and 20 percent were assigned for radial and median nerve neuropathies, respectively, effective July 18, 2018.

The Board has granted service connection for radiculopathy and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, as well as an acquired psychiatric disability including anxiety disorder and PTSD. The hypertension claim was denied.,Service connection is established for radiculopathy and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities due to in-service injuries.