Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2022

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability with radiculopathy, finding that there is no evidence of a lumbar spine disability in service or arthritis within one year following service. The VA examiner concluded that the current low back disability is not related to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's upper extremity radiculopathies.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient development of evidence regarding service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, specifically addressing secondary and aggravation theories. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are believed to be contributing factors.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his back and right leg disabilities are being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations to address the current severity of his disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and bilateral leg sciatica due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between his in-service injuries and current disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back disorder and sciatic nerve disability (associated with a low back disorder) due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding in-service symptoms and chronicity.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is being remanded for a new medical opinion to determine if it is related to service or his service-connected hepatitis C. The issues of higher initial ratings for various joint disabilities and radiculopathy are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to new evidence submitted after a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, and the Board found that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy is also rated at 20 percent, with no higher ratings granted.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection was denied. The TDIU claim is granted, but only effective from October 7, 2010.

The Veteran's lumbar radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, left lower extremity is currently rated at 40 percent and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has remanded the increased rating claims for further evidentiary development, including obtaining VA and private medical records. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is at least as likely as not related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from engaging in substantially gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him from April 1, 2015, through March 25, 2019. The Board granted TDIU during this period.

The Board has granted a 40 percent evaluation for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability from November 30, 2017. The issues of increased evaluations for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of various peripheral neuropathy disabilities and prostatectomy residuals were denied. The Veteran was granted initial ratings, but the Board found that higher ratings were not warranted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for psychiatric disorders, cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, sciatic nerve disorder, right knee disorder, and hepatitis C have all been denied as the evidence does not support a finding of in-service onset or etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for a neck disability and a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right and left upper extremity radiculopathy, lumbosacral strain, cervical spine disability with degenerative disc disease, and bone spur removal from the left foot, are being remanded for further evaluation due to recent worsening of symptoms.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal before the Board could make a decision on the merits of her claims.