Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2021

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, effective March 7, 2005. The earlier effective date for service connection of sciatica of the left lower extremity associated with his lumbar spine disability is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and further development is needed.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The appeal regarding the Veteran's claims for left upper extremity neurological disorder and right upper extremity neurological disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's left upper extremity radiculopathy is being remanded for a VA examination to assess its current severity.

The Veteran's service-connected lower left extremity sciatic radiculopathy is remanded for a new examination to assess the current severity of her condition.

The Veteran's appeals have been remanded for further evaluation of various service-connected conditions, including sleep apnea, mood disorder, and thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease. The effective date for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is denied.

The Veteran's back and lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities are being remanded for further examination to determine their current severity.

The Veteran's VR&E benefits were previously discontinued due to his dissatisfaction with the counseling services. The Board has ordered a new evaluation by a vocational rehabilitation counselor to determine if he is now eligible for VR&E and suitable for the proposed program.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder and radiculopathy were granted increased ratings effective October 15, 2020. The disability was rated at 40 percent for the lumbar spine disorder.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for thoracolumbar strain, sciatic radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities have all been denied by the Board. The criteria for higher disability ratings were not met in any of these cases.

The Veteran's neck disability is being remanded for additional examination and opinion. His right knee, hip, and thigh disabilities are also being remanded for additional examinations to determine their current severity. The Veteran's lumbar spine DDD L5-S1 with limited motion and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity claims are also being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to missing records and need for further medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's low back disability was reduced from 60 percent to 10 percent effective September 1, 2016. The reduction resulted in a decreased combined disability rating.,From September 1, 2016 to December 5, 2018, the Veteran's low back disability more closely approximated a combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine less than 120 degrees.,From December 6, 2018, the Veteran's low back disability more closely approximated favorable ankylosis of the thoracolumbar spine. The left lower extremity radiculopathy affecting the sciatic nerve has been rated as moderate incomplete paralysis.,The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy affecting the femoral nerve from April 26, 2018 was granted a separate 20 percent rating.,Prior to March 12, 2015, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluded him from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment. The TDIU claim is pending.,The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy affecting the sciatic nerve was reduced from 40 percent to 20 percent effective September 1, 2016.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and major depressive disorder with insomnia, is granted.,Service connection for a lumbar spine disability is granted. Service connection for lower extremity radiculopathy (right foot numbness) is also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain with spasm is currently rated at 20 percent, and the appeal seeks a higher rating.,Separate ratings for left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy associated with chronic lumbosacral strain are granted at 10 percent effective August 3, 2017.,Right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy is rated at 20 percent from August 3, 2017.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy, bilateral lower extremities, as there is no current diagnosis of this condition and it is not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent effective July 30, 2012. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted effective the same date.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of the required testing criteria. The issues include his service-connected lumbar spine disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies, and femoral radiculopathies.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been rated based on their respective service-connected conditions.,Prior to January 26, 2015, the Veteran was denied higher ratings for his right and left lower extremity radiculopathies.