Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for Specially Adapted Housing and Special Home Adaption Grant are remanded due to failure to report for VA examinations. The main issues of service connection remain unresolved.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for left foot plantar fasciitis, left ankle tendonitis, and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The remaining issues are remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is being remanded for an updated VA examination due to allegations of worsening symptoms.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left knee DJD, instability, lumbar disc bulge, radiculopathy of both lower extremities, and cellulitis of the left leg. The remand requires additional examinations to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of bilateral lower extremities (secondary to lumbar spine disability), sleep apnea (to include as secondary to service-connected PTSD), and kidney disability (to include as secondary to service-connected hypothyroidism) due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection and aggravation by service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and development are not in compliance with the prior remand directives. The claims for increased ratings will be addressed again to obtain a medical opinion compliant with the holding in Sharp v. Shulkin, 29 Vet. App. 26 (2017).

The Board has remanded three issues related to the Veteran's service-connected right leg sciatica, left leg sciatica, and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The TDIU issue is also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and disability ratings have been dismissed due to her withdrawal of the appeals.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the lower and upper extremities affecting multiple nerves have been denied. The Veteran currently receives a disability rating of 40 percent for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy affecting the sciatic nerve, effective September 26, 2019.

The Veteran's appeal for VR&E benefits to attend law school was denied as he had already obtained a bachelor's degree and extensive administrative experience, which were sufficient for suitable employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbosacral sprain with degenerative changes, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been denied. The Veteran does not meet the schedular criteria for higher ratings under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy as they were not supported by current evidence of record.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his right shoulder disorder was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not demonstrate limitation of motion to midway between side and shoulder level, which would warrant a higher rating. The Veteran's claim for TDIU was also denied as he continued to work as a teacher despite his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his cervical spine strain with IVDS, lumbosacral strain with IVDS, and right upper extremity radiculopathy. The issues are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, as well as for an assessment of left and right lower extremity sciatica.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PFB. Service connection was granted for right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right upper extremity radiculopathy.,Service connection was not established for PTSD or schizophrenia due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to service.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for MDD was denied, and his service connection claim for left lower extremity radiculopathy was also denied. The low back disorder claim resulted in a grant of a higher rating.,Claims for compensable ratings for scars status post pilonidal cyst removal and scars status post left knee surgery were both denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected back disability and radiculopathy are being remanded due to lack of substantial compliance with previous Board directives. The Veteran must be scheduled for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for restless leg syndrome of the left and right lower extremities, as well as radiculopathy of the left lower extremity. The Veteran's conditions are found to be related to his active service.