Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for left knee disorder, lumbosacral strain, and lower extremity sciatica as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left ankle disorder.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records.,VA is seeking to obtain any outstanding SSA disability records, as well as private treatment records from the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work history prior to March 6, 2019.

The Veteran's reduction of lumbar spine rating from 20% to 10% was improper, and the 20% rating is restored. A 40% rating for his lumbar spine disability as of August 18, 2015, is granted. The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy ratings are denied. His TDIU claim is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical sprain, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and major depressive disorder are being remanded for additional examinations to assess their current severity. The Veteran's Bell's Palsy is also being remanded for a new examination to determine the nature and extent of his residuals.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his cervical spine disability and radiculopathy of the upper extremities were denied. The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine was rated at 10 percent prior to June 28, 2012, and higher than 20 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip arthritis, right hand arthritis, cervicalgia (DDD of the cervical spine), and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to additional development needed.,The Board is unable to make a determination on these issues without first confirming whether the Veteran had an additional period of active-duty service with the National Guard prior to January 2005.

The Board has remanded several issues on appeal, including service connection claims for right knee strain and a neurological disorder of the left lower extremity (presumed to be radiculopathy), as well as eligibility for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation. The remaining issues are also being remanded due to inextricable ties with these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that it is related to the Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for DDD of the lumbar spine and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted, with a 10 percent rating assigned for each condition effective March 24, 2007.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a separate evaluation for right lower extremity radiculopathy prior to July 28, 1995 as there was no pending claim of entitlement at that time.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to July 16, 2012. The Board found that the Veteran was employed full-time as an electrician from 2007 to 2013 and did not raise entitlement to an extraschedular TDIU.

The Board has denied service connection for a low back condition, right leg condition, and sciatica of the lower extremities as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are both rated at 40% throughout the appeal period. The cervical spine disability, contusion of the sacral coccyx region, and headaches prior to July 8, 2020 were denied. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted (radiculopathy) while others were denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for a low back disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to insufficient evidence regarding their severity during the relevant period.

The Veteran's appeal is mixed, with some issues granted and others denied. The main issue of service connection for his low back disability and radiculopathy remains unresolved, while other claims related to increased ratings or TDIU are addressed.

The appeal is being remanded for the RO to consider additional evidence and list specific dates of each four-hour drill/training session in 2011. The benefits sought remain denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to evidence of worsening since his last VA examination. The cases are being returned for further evaluation and potential additional examinations.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the appellant's death, and no final decision can be made on the merits of the claims.