Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2021

The Veteran's right leg radiculopathy is being remanded for another VA examination to assess the current severity and manifestations of his condition.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, effective October 30, 2019. The left lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 10 percent. The TDIU claim is denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy were evaluated. The lumbar spine disability was rated at 10% since November 1, 2009, and the left lower extremity radiculopathy was rated at 20% from November 1, 2015, through March 31, 2016, and 10% thereafter. The ratings were denied.

A 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain is granted effective July 13, 2015.,Ratings in excess of 10 percent for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are denied prior to June 20, 2019. A 20 percent rating is granted from June 20, 2019.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA medical opinions and private treatment records. The issues of a compensable rating for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, increased ratings for sciatic nerve neuropathy, and entitlement to TDIU are all pending.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability, including history of IVDS, is rated at 20% prior to June 1, 2017; 10% from June 1, 2017 to December 20, 2020; and no higher. The Veteran's service-connected radiculopathy, right lower extremity, is also rated at 20% prior to June 1, 2017; 10% from June 1, 2017 to December 20, 2020; and no higher.,The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability has been rated based on the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The Veteran's radiculopathy, right lower extremity, has been rated under the Formula for Rating IVDS Based on Incapacitating Episodes.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, effective December 20, 2018. The radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities are each rated at 10 and 20 percent respectively, also effective December 20, 2018.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for radiculopathy of the right leg is granted. The claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for radiculopathy of the left leg remains denied.

The Board has granted service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to a back disability. The issue of service connection for a left foot disability, including as secondary to service-connected disabilities, is remanded.

The Board dismissed all claims related to service connection and ratings for various conditions, including radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, osteoarthritis of the left knee, and degenerative arthritis of the right knee. The effective dates were also not granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for radiculopathy, sciatic nerve left lower extremity and right wrist sprain were denied. The claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with anterolistheses and spondylolysis was also denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for fibromyalgia and left lower extremity radiculopathy was denied. The Veteran also failed to meet the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder and right lower extremity radiculopathy, but denied service connection for a left upper extremity disability.

The Board has remanded the issues of an effective date prior to February 12, 2012, for the grant of a separate compensable rating for right cervical radiculopathy and initial ratings for cervical spine strain with degenerative arthritis and mild reversal of normal lordosis since February 12, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability and bilateral radiculopathy disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment for the period prior to April 16, 2013.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection and secondary service connection for a neck disability, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left lower extremity sciatica was granted, but the claims for right lower extremity sciatica, bladder disability (BPH), and bowel disability were denied.,Service connection for bladder cancer due to herbicide exposure was granted.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings of his service-connected peripheral neuropathy disabilities and for service connection for left eye anisometropic amblyopia have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeals.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as his claim for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The claims are inextricably intertwined with each other.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (sleep apnea, PTSD, lumbar spine disability, and LLE radiculopathy) do not render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder arthritis and right upper extremity radiculopathy secondary to cervical spine arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service.