Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2022

The Veteran is eligible for specially adapted housing due to his service-connected disabilities, which include a lumbar spine disability and lower extremity radiculopathy. These conditions have resulted in significant mobility issues that require the use of assistive devices such as a cane or wheelchair.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve was granted a 10 percent initial rating effective August 3, 2016. The appeal is denied for an initial rating higher than 10 percent prior to February 27, 2017.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection for right lower extremity (RLE) sciatica secondary to service-connected lumbar spine disability. The remaining issues of service connection have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to open medical questions regarding the severity of the Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity (sciatic nerve).

The Veteran's right upper extremity radiculopathy and cervical spine degenerative disc syndrome were granted initial disability ratings. The Veteran received a 40% rating for his right upper extremity radiculopathy, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his lumbar spine disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and migraines, are found to be of sufficient severity to render him practically unemployable. The Board grants TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The claims are being remanded for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various foot, ankle, knee, and hip disorders as well as radiculopathy of the lower extremities. The issues are related to her service-connected chronic mild lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded for referral to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's cervical spine disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbosacral spine disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone are sufficient for SMC based on need for regular A&A. The VA is instructed to schedule a VA SMC A&A/Housebound examination to determine if the Veteran requires assistance with ADLs.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete service treatment records and outstanding VA, non-VA, and Social Security Administration records. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a heart disability, respiratory disability, neck disability, low back disability, peripheral nerve disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder are all being remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that there was no credible evidence to support a link between his current disability and service.

The Veteran is granted entitlement to TDIU as of April 11, 2017 and from August 1, 2015 to April 10, 2017. The claim for TDIU prior to August 1, 2015 is denied.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's hearing loss, PTSD, foot disorders, IVDS, radiculopathy, and shoulder degenerative arthritis. The appellant is seeking an extension of time to respond due to delays in receiving notification letters from VA.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of several service-connected conditions, including recurrent leg and sleep disabilities. The Board also notes that the combined rating for all service-connected disabilities has not yet reached a level sufficient to warrant a TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for multiple sclerosis. The Veteran's claims for varicose veins, lumbar radiculopathy, myelopathy, rhabdomyolysis, neuropathy with sciatica and paresthesias, chronic leg pain, transverse myelitis, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded as secondary to his service-connected multiple sclerosis. The Veteran's claim for TDIU is also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis, restrictive ventilatory defect, and multiple musculoskeletal conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for sinus disabilities, psychiatric disabilities, and knee disabilities. The Board also directed further VA examinations to assess the severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and foot conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating at any point.