Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity as secondary to his service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran is granted a disability rating of 40 percent for polyradiculopathy of the right lower extremity and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, effective from January 1, 2014. The Veteran previously received partial increases to these ratings.

The Board has determined that there is at least a 50% chance (equipoise) that the Veteran's current back disorder, diagnosed as lumbar spondylosis with radiculopathy, lumbar stenosis, and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, was incurred in service. The decision grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's neurological symptoms of the left lower extremity, including a lumbar spine disability with radiculopathy, are related to herbicide agent exposure in service.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is being remanded for a new examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantial and gainful employment prior to September 12, 2017.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection of various conditions due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU prior to August 13, 2016 are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to a lack of recent VA examination and outstanding records. The Veteran needs to be provided with a new VA examination to assess his current disability severity.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new examination of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and related neurological manifestations.

The Veteran's cervical disc herniation with C6 radiculopathy is related to a neck injury during his active duty for training (ACDUTRA) in July 2011, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his service-connected right lower extremity radiculopathy and lumbar spine disability, as well as the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to June 15, 2011.

The Board has granted service connection for left foot plantar fasciitis and low back disability, but the right foot condition remains unresolved.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for right knee osteoarthritis and osteochondritis dessicans was denied. The TDIU claim is remanded due to its inextricability with the ongoing increased rating claims.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability and bilateral cervical radiculopathy, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and evaluation of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining additional medical records, scheduling VA examinations, and providing a more detailed opinion regarding his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of bilateral upper extremities has been granted, with a rating of 30 percent. The other conditions and issues have either not met the criteria for higher ratings or were denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to new evidence added since the last Statement of the Case. The claims will be reviewed again, including a TDIU claim.

Your claim for service connection for LLE radiculopathy, to include as secondary to a lumbar spine disability has been granted and is effective August 23, 2017. The appeal is dismissed because the claim has been fully resolved.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as there is no longer a case or controversy regarding service connection for numbness of the left leg, as it was granted in October 2019.