Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2022

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, cervical radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, lumbar radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and lumbar radiculopathy of the right lower extremity due to lack of medical evidence linking current symptoms to in-service stressors or conditions.

The Veteran's chronic headaches are found to be related to his service, specifically exposure to hazardous chemicals during deployment. Service connection is granted.,Right foot metatarsalgia is found to have been caused by an injury sustained while playing football in-service. Service connection is granted.,Left knee osteoarthritis is found to be related to a twisting injury that occurred in-service while playing football. Service connection is granted.,Degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and radiculopathy in left lower extremity are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset or aggravation during service.,The Veteran's radiculopathy in left lower extremity is also remanded for similar reasons.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee disability, right hand disability, chronic low back strain, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and PTSD due to failure to report for VA examinations. The issues are inextricably intertwined with TDIU.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings in excess of 30 percent for cervical spine degenerative arthritis and in excess of 20 percent for right upper extremity radiculopathy prior to February 24, 2022. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities resulted in mild incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve, which does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for sciatic nerve radiculopathy and IVDS with lumbosacral strain was denied. The Veteran's hypertension was granted a 10 percent rating effective May 7, 2018.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder and LLE radiculopathy, but denied service connection for right wrist, left heel, right eye, and chest disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, and a reproductive disability. The rating for eczema is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for left eye disorder, scars, acquired psychiatric disorder, neck disorder, and left upper extremity radiculopathy as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy was initially evaluated as 10% prior to September 9, 2014. From September 9, 2014 to July 17, 2019, the evaluation was increased to 20%. Since then, it has been rated at 40%.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right lower extremity sciatic nerve paralysis have been rated at 10% since December 7, 2007. The Board has denied increased ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for a vision disability and increased evaluations for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy. As such, the Board dismissed the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative joint disease status post compression fracture with low back strain and other related conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since October 12, 2019. As such, the Board has granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal seeking a rating in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder impingement syndrome is dismissed.,For the period prior to October 31, 2017 and from April 1, 2019 to March 22, 2022, an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for major depressive disorder with anxious distress (acquired psychiatric disorder) is denied.,For the period from October 31, 2017 to April 1, 2019, a 50 percent rating for acquired psychiatric disorder is granted.,For the period from March 28, 2019, an initial 20 percent rating for lumbar spine condition is granted.,A separate 10 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted from March 17, 2022.,The Veteran's appeals regarding entitlement to service connection for a left knee condition, right shoulder condition, and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including the evaluation of DJD of the thoracolumbar and cervical spine, separate ratings for radiculopathy, service connection for migraine headaches as secondary to service-connected disabilities, and TDIU. The effective date issue remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve neuropathy associated with diabetes mellitus have been denied by the Board.

The Veteran's right sciatic radiculopathy was granted an initial rating of 20 percent, effective from the date of his death in November 2017.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's sleep apnea and its relationship to his service-connected disabilities. The Veteran contends that his psychiatric disorder, back, knee, and feet disabilities have caused or aggravated his sleep apnea.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied prior to April 9, 2018 and dismissed from that date onwards due to his combined disability rating of 100 percent. The SMC based on housebound status is also denied.