Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2021

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is not related to his active service or any other condition, and therefore, denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability and radiculopathy have rendered her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting TDIU on an extraschedular basis. The need for aid and attendance has also been inferred.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the evidence does not support a current neurological disability of the left lower extremity other than sciatic nerve disorder, and his claims for increased ratings are also denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for low back disability, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity due to inadequate examinations in previous decisions. A new examination is required to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including thoracolumbar scoliosis with degenerative joint and disc disease, residuals of gunshot wound to the right thigh, mild incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve in both lower extremities, preclude him from maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and work history.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient explanation of why the Veteran was not entitled to a higher rating for his service-connected right lower extremity radiculopathy, and because further action is needed in connection with the underlying increased rating claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy has been dismissed as the Veteran and his representative have withdrawn their appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for radiculopathy of the left hand as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected cervical spine stenosis.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain due to degenerative disc disease with bilateral radiculopathy required emergency treatment at a non-VA hospital on December 20, 2013. The Board found that the care was for an emergent condition and VA facilities were not feasibly available.

The Veteran is rendered unable to maintain substantially gainful employment as a result of service-connected disabilities from April 12, 2012 to June 28, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board is remanding them due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's low back syndrome is currently rated at 10 percent prior to April 10, 2017 and granted a 40 percent rating from that date.,Separate ratings of 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy are granted prior to April 10, 2017 and thereafter; and a separate 10 percent evaluation is granted for left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has found that service connection is warranted for right knee arthritis. The Veteran's claims for left wrist disability, right hip disability, right leg disability (secondary to low back disability), and sciatica (secondary to low back disability) are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration (SSA) records and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the inextricability of the issues. The lumbar radiculopathy rating decision will be reconsidered, and a new decision on TDIU will be issued after that.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to lack of recent VA treatment records and a need for a thorough medical examination. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed again after these are obtained.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and a lumbar hernia as secondary to the Veteran's now service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for her radiculopathy of the right lower extremity was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show moderate incomplete paralysis, which would warrant a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 8520.

The Veteran's migraines are found to have started during service and continue today, meeting the criteria for service connection.,While there is no direct evidence linking the lumbar spine disability to service, the Board finds that the Veteran's consistent reports of in-service injuries and symptoms since discharge meet the continuity of symptomatology requirement, granting service connection on a secondary basis.,The radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities is found to be related to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.