Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for fibromyalgia, vertigo, obstructive sleep apnea, ovarian cysts, lymphadenopathy, and lumbar spine disorder with radiculopathy due to outstanding VA and private medical records. The Veteran is also being asked to undergo a new VA examination to determine the etiology of her right knee disability and for opinions on whether any service-connected disabilities have aggravated or caused her lumbar spine disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to additional development being necessary.

The Veteran's right leg sciatic radiculopathy is granted a separate 40 percent rating, effective November 14, 2018. His back condition remains at 40 percent and he has been granted TDIU.

The Board has granted a higher initial rating of 40 percent for the Veteran's lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease, effective from November 2012. Separate ratings of 20 percent have been granted for right lower extremity radiculopathy associated with this condition. Other issues related to the Veteran's back disability remain pending and are remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims regarding his cervical spine, lumbar strain, upper and lower extremity neuropathy, and skin disabilities. The claims are being remanded to obtain updated findings from VA examinations.

The Veteran's back disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been rated, with the rating for back disability being granted from October 18, 2012 to September 16, 2019. The appeal is remanded for further consideration of his TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and radiculopathy of the lower extremities due to additional development being needed, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination.

The Board has remanded the cases of a lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and TDIU prior to August 3, 2018 due to inadequate examinations and lack of information regarding flare-ups.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the initial rating for anxiety, service connection for LUE radiculopathy, RUE radiculopathy, and cervical spine disability. The claims are dismissed.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for a neck disability and secondary service connection for right upper extremity radiculopathy, finding that these conditions are related to his in-service injuries.

The Veteran's initial rating for coronary artery disease was granted at 60 percent, effective April 12, 2011. From March 30, 2016, the Veteran is also entitled to SMC due to having multiple service-connected disabilities rated at 60% or more.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity sciatic and femoral neuropathies are granted a 20 percent rating from February 19, 2013 to July 7, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted effective April 29, 2014. The decision also grants earlier effective dates for the conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives, and an addendum opinion is needed regarding the etiology of the Veteran's erectile dysfunction.

The Board denied attorney fees as the attorney did not represent the Veteran during the phase of the appeal when he sought increased ratings for his service-connected low back disability and separate ratings for pain and paresthesia in his bilateral lower extremities, as well as entitlement to a TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for further development due to concerns about the qualifications of the VA examiners who provided the most recent examination reports. The Veteran's service connection claims related to bilateral shoulder, cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, and left foot disorders are being returned to the AOJ for additional development.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left upper extremity was denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent prior to February 4, 2020 and a rating in excess of 40 percent thereafter.,For his degenerative disc disease of lumbar spine, he was denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent prior to August 26, 2013 and a rating in excess of 40 percent from that date onwards.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including cardiovascular disability, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, acquired psychiatric disability, neurological disability (vertigo), bilateral hip and knee disabilities, bilateral ankle disabilities, radiculopathy of upper and lower extremities, and a rating for multilevel spondylosis and mild spinal stenosis. The remand requires additional examinations and medical opinions to address the Veteran's claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disability and cervical radiculopathy, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.