Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right lower extremity neurological disorder to include as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability has been dismissed.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for the Veteran's spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy due to unresolved development needs. The appeal is not about service connection, but rather rating determinations.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on several service-connected conditions have been dismissed due to his death prior to a decision.

The Veteran's lumbar laminectomy with IVDS is currently rated as 40 percent disabling before August 1, 2017, and 20 percent thereafter. The claim for a higher rating has been denied.,The Veteran’s recurrent ganglion cyst on the left wrist was initially noncompensable prior to March 15, 2013, and rated as 10 percent disabling thereafter. The claim for a higher rating has been denied.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the femoral nerve of the right lower extremity is currently rated as 20 percent disabling from August 1, 2017. The claim for a higher rating has been denied.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the femoral nerve of the left lower extremity is currently rated as 20 percent disabling from August 1, 2017. The claim for a higher rating has been denied.,The Veteran’s sciatic radiculopathy of the right lower extremity was initially granted a separate rating of 10 percent effective January 7, 2010. The claim for a higher rating has been denied from August 1, 2017 onwards.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve of the right lower extremity is currently rated as 20 percent disabling from August 1, 2017. The claim for a higher rating has been denied.,The Veteran’s sciatic radiculopathy of the left lower extremity was initially granted a separate rating of 10 percent effective January 7, 2010. The claim for a higher rating has been denied from August 1, 2017 onwards.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve of the left lower extremity is currently rated as 20 percent disabling from August 1, 2017. The claim for a higher rating has been denied.,Prior to December 1, 2016, the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities did not prevent her from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with her education and occupational background. The claim for TDIU prior to this date has been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbosacral strain, left and right radiculopathy, dorsal spine compression fraction, right shoulder tendonitis with impingement and osteoarthritis, type 2 diabetes, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are granted with a rating of 20 percent.,Service connection for dizziness, right knee disability, brain disability, and migraines is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his failure to report for VA examinations. The claims are now pending and need further examination and medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right and left knee conditions, bilateral pes planus, hypertension with chest pain, low back condition, tinnitus, radiculopathy, patellar subluxation, painful motion in knees and feet, and hearing loss, precluded him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment beginning July 1, 2014.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left lower extremity, right lower extremity, low back, and bilateral foot disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and analysis. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other issues.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 10 percent prior to January 20, 2021 and 10 percent beginning May 1, 2021. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity with sciatica is currently rated at 10 percent while her left lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 20 percent.,The Veteran's mid-back disability previously claimed as left shoulder pain did not have its onset in service and is not otherwise related to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted and rendered moot due to the grant of service connection for right ankle disorder in April 2020. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left and right lower extremity radiculopathies, as well as his increased rating claim for a lumbar spine disability, are granted. Effective March 12, 2014, the Veteran is entitled to a 20% schedular rating for his lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining a VA addendum opinion to determine if the Veteran's back disability and/or left leg radiculopathy are aggravated by his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, and his left lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 10 percent prior to November 25, 2016, and 20 percent thereafter. The Board denied the Veteran's request for a higher rating for these conditions.

The Veteran's radiculopathy affecting the sciatic nerve of both lower extremities is granted with a rating of 20 percent.,TDIU was granted as of January 7, 2008.

The appeals for increased ratings and special monthly compensation have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left lower extremity radiculopathy and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete development of records, including federal disability retirement records. The VA must obtain these records and provide a new examination to determine if the Veteran's conditions are related to service.

The Board has denied service connection for a left ankle disorder and remanded the issues of service connection for back, neck, right arm, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.