Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, including right lower extremity radiculopathy, based on continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's back disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy were granted service connection, with the effective date set at October 3, 2011. Service connection for PTSD was denied.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU from October 14, 2015 to October 26, 2020 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted an effective date of February 28, 2008 for the award of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy and right lower extremity radiculopathy.,An initial rating in excess of 40 percent for a low back disability is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have caused him to lose the use of both feet, qualifying him for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile and adaptive equipment.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disorder with radiculopathy, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a left hand scar with residuals to include stiffness and limitation of movement of two fingers, finding that the Veteran's current disability is related to a burn in service. The cervical spine disability, acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy/neuropathy are all remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because he died during the pendency of his claims, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these appeals.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection, evaluations, and TDIU due to issues with his right hip, lumbar spine, sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and major depressive disorder. The appeals are now pending again.

The Board has remanded several claims due to the Veteran's failure to report for scheduled VA examinations and his hospitalization. The issues include rating ratings, service connection, and other disability evaluations.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and a need for an addendum opinion regarding service connection for back conditions, including aggravation of congenital scoliosis/kyphosis.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right lower extremity (RLE) disorder, including whether it is related to service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected, with a current rating of 10%.,Maxillary sinusitis is granted with an initial 10% rating based on the number and severity of episodes.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability with associated left and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The cases of the left wrist disability, to include radial, carpal, and cubital tunnel syndrome, and right ear hearing loss are remanded.

The Veteran's DJD of the lumbar spine is rated at 40 percent, effective December 28, 2021. The rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity was increased to 10 percent prior to September 29, 2020 and to 20 percent since then. The rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity remains at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and consideration, including service connection claims for various disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathies were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating greater than 20 percent for either condition.

The Veteran's lumbar strain is rated at 40 percent from July 15, 2019. The RO denied increased ratings for his sciatic nerve radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities prior to June 9, 2021.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability and whether a preexisting condition was aggravated during service.

The Board has found that additional VA examinations are needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, lower extremity radiculopathy, and hypertension. The issues have been remanded for these purposes.