Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2021

The Board has denied a higher rating for the right knee meniscectomy and granted effective dates of November 25, 2003 for service connection of upper extremity radiculopathies. The cervical strain claim is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if any current left lower extremity condition is related to service, and whether any arthritis is related to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including addressing new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the cases for new VA examinations to determine the current severity of the Veteran's back disability and bilateral radiculopathy.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability, including degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, and cervical radiculopathy, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a link to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran was granted an initial 20 percent disability rating for peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve branches in both legs, effective March 27, 2017.,The Veteran's femoral nerve branch conditions were not rated higher.

The Veteran's right hip osteoarthritis is granted service connection. The rating for his back condition, radiculopathy affecting the femoral nerve and sciatic nerve are denied. The left knee lateral instability is granted a 10% rating effective May 20, 2019.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a new examination of his lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition and lumbar radiculopathy due to incomplete records and need for further medical examination.

The Board dismissed the appeals of the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbosacral strain, esophageal hiatal hernia with narrowing of esophagogastric junction, unspecified anxiety disorder, osteoarthritis with calcified peri-tendinosis in both shoulders, and dermatitis, eczematous, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined rating of at least 70 percent for his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.,Service connection has been granted for back pain, DDD of the cervical spine, headaches (secondary to back and cervical disabilities), right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, prostate problems, and skin rashes.

A rating of 20 percent, but not higher, for left lower extremity (LLE) radiculopathy is granted.,A rating of 20 percent, but not higher, for right lower extremity (RLE) radiculopathy is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection claims for thoracolumbar spondylosis, degenerative disc disease without radiculopathy, and cervical spine disability. A new VA examination is required to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since at least February 2008.

The Veteran's right knee and radiculopathy of the lower extremities are being remanded for new examinations due to increased severity since the last VA examination in January 2016.,The TDIU claim is being remanded for consideration on an extraschedular basis, as it may have been warranted from 2008 based on a private medical opinion and the Veteran's unemployability.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for her service-connected lumbar spine disability is granted at a 40 percent level prior to October 1, 2013.,Service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to the service-connected lumbar spine disability is also granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity due to a need for additional development, including an updated VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following gainful employment prior to October 2, 2012. Therefore, the claim for TDIU is denied.

All back disability claims are granted with a 40% rating from September 1, 2004 to May 20, 2015. Claims for higher ratings for the right and left lower extremity radiculopathies are denied. Right ankle sprain is granted at 20% since May 16, 2015; left ankle sprain is also granted at 20% from that date.