Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is proximately due to or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder strain with radiculopathy, degenerative arthritis of the spine with spondylosis, and cervical spine degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's radiculopathy, right lower extremity is rated at 40 percent and his TDIU is granted.,His back disability remains remanded for further examination.

The Board denied service connection for low back, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or any presumptive exposure.

The Board dismissed all appeals due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal of his appeals prior to a decision being made.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection and increased ratings, as well as the extension of a temporary total rating. The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy was granted an initial 20 percent rating until December 3, 2013, but denied any higher rating from that date onwards.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and bilateral lower extremity sciatica, as well as his claim for TDIU due to inadequate VA examinations. The issues are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine and for TDIU due to new evidence and inadequate previous examinations. The Veteran will need to undergo further VA examinations.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for various conditions, including eczema, right hip tendonitis, right lower extremity radiculopathy, fracture of the right clavicle, and bilateral pes equinus. The Board also granted a 10 percent rating for right ankle Achilles strain and a 50 percent rating for bilateral pes planus from February 15, 2018.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's right leg sciatica and his service-connected right hip condition. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if there is a link between these conditions.

The Veteran's ratings for left and right upper extremity radiculopathy were restored to 60 percent effective June 12, 2014. The reduction of the rating was not proper due to lack of material improvement in function.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of lumbar spine with sciatica and secondary service connection for sciatica as related to his lumbar spine condition.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to a decision.,Ratings were granted or denied for various knee conditions and radiculopathy issues.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) from November 11, 2019. The TDIU was also granted prior to that date on an extra-schedular basis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and SMC based on need for aid and attendance, loss of use of buttocks, loss of use of legs, and loss of use of hands. The claims are also remanded to obtain VA medical records and employment history information.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and TDIU was denied. The SMC at the housebound rate is granted from June 20, 2019.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasons or bases for denying a separate disability rating for radiculopathy. The Veteran's cervical strain and radiculopathy need further examination.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable.,Prior to May 31, 2018, the Veteran was not entitled to a rating in excess of 10 percent for his right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve peripheral neuropathy.,Beginning May 31, 2018, the Veteran is granted a 20 percent rating for each affected lower extremity sciatic nerve.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 20 percent, the maximum schedular rating for limited motion of the ankle. The combined rating from all service-connected disabilities is 80 percent.,The Veteran meets the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

All previously denied claims for service connection have been dismissed.,A noncompensable rating has been granted for bilateral ankle sprains since June 3, 2005.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn for several conditions, and the issue of service connection for diabetes mellitus is remanded.