Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to inadequate examinations in prior decisions.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as well as his low back and sciatic nerve radiculopathy, are granted service connection.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic) were denied increased ratings.,The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral) was also denied an increased rating.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, but no higher. The effective dates have not been set by the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate VA examinations and unclear employment status. The Veteran's service-connected low back strain and right lower extremity radiculopathy are being evaluated again.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, as due to the lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD is remanded due to lack of a VA examination.

The Board has found the medical opinions insufficient for adjudicating the service connection claims and has ordered additional examinations to address all raised theories of service connection, including those related to herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and the need for updated medical records. The Veteran's fibromyalgia, polyneuropathy of upper extremities, depression, radiculopathy, and sciatica are at issue.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for peripheral neuropathy, left shoulder condition, urethra disability, fibromyalgia, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy due to additional development being required.

The Veteran's service-connected thoracolumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) and related lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted initial ratings of 40 percent each, effective March 21, 2013. The neurogenic bladder condition is also rated at 40 percent effective March 1, 2019.

The Veteran's effective dates for service connection have been determined, and no earlier effective dates are granted.,The Veteran's sleep apnea claim is remanded as further medical opinion is needed to determine if it is related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, and other peripheral nerve disabilities affecting the right upper and lower extremities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher than current disability ratings.,For the left leg amputation, a 60 percent rating was granted, with no further increase to an 80 percent rating as the location of the amputation could not be definitively established.

The Veteran's thoracic spine disability is rated at 20 percent, effective December 16, 2020. The Board granted a TDIU beginning February 15, 2012.

The Board has remanded the case to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration of entitlement to TDIU from January 30, 2009 (the date of claim) to October 5, 2021 due to service-connected low back disability and radiculopathy.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's right knee and right hip disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine, bilateral shoulder, right knee, and lumbar spine disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions in previous decisions. The Veteran's statements regarding injuries during service are considered.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the severity of his cervical spine disability and associated bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy prior to January 8, 2020.

The Veteran's radiculopathy, right and left lower extremities are granted as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.,The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran requires regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, including bipolar disorder, lumbar radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, lumbar strain, and tinnitus. As a result, SMC based on the need for aid and attendance is granted.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy claims are denied. The Veteran is granted a 40% rating for his left lower extremity radiculopathy, but the right lower extremity radiculopathy claim remains at a 20% rating.