Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2021

The Veteran's electric wheelchair, prescribed for his service-connected spinal condition, is found to cause wear and tear on his clothing. The Board grants an annual clothing allowance for the year 2021.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including right sciatic radicular pain, right hip condition, right knee condition, cervical spine condition, lumbar spine condition, left hip condition, and left knee condition. The claims are being remanded to allow for further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran is seeking an increase in his rating for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, which may impact his radiculopathy of the right lower extremity.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for left upper extremity radiculopathy, finding that there was no procedural error and no clear and unmistakable error in prior decisions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic and femoral nerves remain denied. The Board finds that remand is necessary to obtain an addendum VA medical opinion explaining the examiner's decision regarding right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has denied an increased rating for the Veteran's lumbar spondylosis with degenerative disc disease and remanded his claims for allergic rhinitis, right leg radiculopathy/claimed as lumbar neuritis, and left leg radiculopathy/claimed as lumbar neuritis. The Veteran is required to provide updated VA examinations and a Statement of the Case concerning these issues.

The Veteran's depression rating was reduced from 70 percent to 50 percent, and the appeal for this reduction is granted.,The Veteran's sciatic radiculopathy of the left lower extremity rating was reduced from 40 percent to 20 percent, and the appeal for this reduction is granted.,The Veteran's femoral radiculopathy of the left lower extremity rating was reduced from 30 percent to 20 percent, and the appeal for this reduction is granted.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits prior to September 6, 2013 was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have any pending appeals or awards of service connection prior to this date.

The Veteran's left sterno-clavicular joint disability is currently rated at 20 percent prior to April 1, 2019, and 30 percent thereafter. The Board has remanded the issue for further development.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability with limitation of motion is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board has also remanded this issue for further development.,The Veteran's left upper extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 30 percent. The Board has remanded the issue for further development.

Service connection for right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy and left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy has been granted.,An initial rating of 20% for left upper extremity radiculopathy is granted, with a separate rating of 10% for right knee instability.

The Board has granted an effective date of March 6, 2015 for the Veteran's service-connected left upper extremity radiculopathy as secondary to his cervical spine disability with osteophytes.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and clarification of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as lumbosacral strain with degenerative spurring L1 and L2. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability claim is also being remanded due to incomplete records from University of Utah Health Care.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including old compression fracture with degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and left lower extremity radiculopathy, are being remanded for further development to determine their current severity.

The Veteran's neurogenic bladder was granted a 20 percent rating prior to August 21, 2012 and a 60 percent rating from August 21, 2012 to October 17, 2019. From October 17, 2019, the Veteran's neurogenic bladder was denied any higher ratings.,The Veteran's sciatic nerve neuropathy of both lower extremities were granted initial ratings of 40 percent each.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of lumbar disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome and sciatic radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his sciatic radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is also remanded. Additionally, the issue of entitlement to TDIU prior to October 8, 2018 remains on appeal.

The Board found that the severance of service connection for right lower extremity and left lower extremity radiculopathy was improper, as there is conflicting evidence regarding the diagnosis.,A remand has been ordered to obtain VA examinations for the Veteran's right wrist and left knee disabilities. The effective date for a 10 percent rating for right wrist degenerative joint disease must also be determined.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a TDIU are being remanded due to the need for further development, including referral of his TDIU claim for extraschedular consideration prior to March 15, 2017.

The Veteran's loss of balance is due to his service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome, degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral strain, degenerative disc disease, facet arthropathy and L2-L5 laminectomy, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral lower extremity sciatic nerve paralysis with radiculopathy and neuropathy. The Board granted service connection for loss of balance.