Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for his service-connected thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease, sciatic radiculopathy of the lower extremities, and femoral nerve radiculopathy have been granted.,Effective January 14, 2021, the Veteran is assigned a disability rating of 40 percent for thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease. Effective January 14, 2021, he is also granted TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development, and did not make a decision on service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is granted with an effective date of November 1, 2009. Service connection for colitis is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are now pending before the Board. The VA will provide further examinations to determine if he has current diagnoses of these conditions, which may be related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine disability and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy due to incomplete development in prior examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient opinions regarding his sleep apnea, back condition, acquired psychiatric disorder, and respiratory condition. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic and femoral nerves have been granted initial 20 percent ratings.

An increased rating of 60 percent for coronary artery disease is granted from December 6, 2011.,Service connection for a skin condition (fibromatous type changes and keloid) is granted. The Veteran's current disability includes bilateral cataracts and glaucoma secondary to diabetes mellitus.,PTSD claim dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.,Bilateral hearing loss claim dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.,Service connection for bilateral cataracts, bilateral glaucoma, kidney infection, bilateral shoulder pain, bilateral knee pain, bilateral ankle pain, obstructive sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and lower back pain is remanded. Service connection for sciatica is also remanded.,An increased rating for diabetes mellitus secondary to cataracts and glaucoma is remanded.,Service connection for kidney infection is remanded.,Service connection for bilateral shoulder pain is remanded.,Service connection for bilateral knee pain is remanded.,Service connection for bilateral ankle pain is remanded.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities is remanded.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is remanded.,Service connection for lower back pain is remanded.,Service connection for sciatica is remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar spondylosis with IVDS and associated radiculopathies have been granted initial disability ratings from October 15, 2008 to September 23, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left upper extremity radiculopathy were denied as the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Veteran's IVDS is rated at 40 percent, effective from the date of the decision.,The Veteran's paralysis of the sciatic nerve (left lower extremity) and right lower extremity are both rated at 20 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a thoracolumbar spine condition, radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities as secondary to a thoracolumbar spine condition, erectile dysfunction as secondary to a thoracolumbar spine condition, and bilateral hearing loss. The Board also denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of fracture of left mandible, postoperative.

The Veteran's right upper extremity radiculopathy was not manifested by symptoms of greater than slight incomplete paralysis prior to June 28, 2021. From that date, the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether he met criteria for a higher evaluation.,Prior to June 28, 2021, the Veteran's cervical spine disability was manifested by forward flexion of 35 degrees and muscle spasm resulting in abnormal gait or spinal contour. Beginning that date, his disability was manifested by forward flexion of 55 degrees with muscle spasm.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting appropriate examinations.

The Veteran's DDD of the thoracolumbar spine with IVDS is rated at 40 percent, effective prior to March 1, 2021. A separate rating of 20 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted beginning November 19, 2020.

The Board has remanded four issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities: PTSD, low back strain with degenerative changes, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and recurrent right ankle sprain. The remand requires VA to obtain treatment records from the Taylor Street Vet Center in Washington, D.C., and to schedule the Veteran for examinations by appropriate clinicians to determine the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's sciatica, right lower extremity is now rated at 40 percent effective July 7, 2021. The low back strain with degenerative disc disease remains rated at 40 percent. The rating for sciatica prior to December 2, 2019 was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, cervicogenic headaches, right upper extremity neuritis (claimed as radiculopathy), and obstructive sleep apnea, all secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical degenerative disease with left radiculopathy (claimed as neck herniated disc C5-C6) and back herniated disc L4-L5 and degenerative disc L5-S1.,Both conditions are found to be related to the Veteran's in-service experiences, including heavy lifting and body strength workouts.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to incomplete development and need for additional medical opinions.