Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination. The TDIU claim is also being remanded for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are remanded due to the need for new VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of the spine, bilateral shoulder disabilities, and radiculopathy of the lower extremities. The Veteran is also required to provide authorization for VA to obtain private treatment records from Landstuhl Medical Center.

The Board has granted service connection for left lower extremity neuropathy and radiculopathy, finding that the Veteran's disability is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected back disability. The issue of right lower extremity radiculopathy was dismissed due to a complete grant of benefits in the January 2021 rating decision.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy and his period of service. The claims will be reconsidered after obtaining a new medical opinion.

The Board has dismissed all claims for increased ratings for the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and various radiculopathy conditions. The Veteran was granted a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings was dismissed as the appellant requested a withdrawal of the appeal. The issues related to service connection and TDIU have been resolved.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disorder, including separate ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, is granted from August 25, 2015, to October 27, 2021. The claim is denied thereafter.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence of record, particularly regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for a back condition. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's back condition had its onset during active duty or is causally related to any in-service event, disease, or injury.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional medical inquiry into his service-connected residuals of a left knee replacement and thoracolumbar spine strain with IVDS, as well as for an assessment of radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities. The appeals are currently pending.

The Veteran's appeal for a combined disability rating in excess of 70 percent is dismissed, and the Board grants entitlement to TDIU prior to April 16, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings are remanded. The effective dates for the grants of service connection for bilateral lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy and low back disability have been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, sleep apnea, left leg sciatica, and lumbago need further examination and review due to new evidence added to the file.

The Veteran's left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy is now rated at 20 percent, effective November 18, 2021. The rating for thoracolumbar strain remains denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for low back disorder was granted with a 20% evaluation effective February 4, 2016. The issue of entitlement to an earlier effective date prior to July 9, 2010 is dismissed.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities associated with his service-connected low back disorder was granted with a 20% evaluation effective February 4, 2016. The issue of entitlement to an earlier effective date prior to July 9, 2010 is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lower extremity radiculopathy and service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis are denied. The claim for service connection of the bilateral plantar fasciitis is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a neck disorder, acid reflux, dizziness, bilateral wrist disorders, lower extremity radiculopathies, vision floaters, and a walking disorder, have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claims prior to the Board decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been granted, including degenerative disc disease of the cervical and lumbar spine, arthritis in both knees, radiculopathy affecting both upper extremities, right ear hearing loss, migraine headaches, depressive disorder, and erectile dysfunction.,Service connection is established for all claimed conditions due to their direct link to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various spine and nerve disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU prior to October 3, 2014 are being remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need to obtain private medical records.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, as well as bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to these conditions. The evidence supports a finding that these disabilities are related to active service.