Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeal is partially granted with increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathy. The issues of right knee disability, TDIU, left hip disability as secondary to service-connected conditions, and increased ratings for lower extremity radiculopathies are remanded.

The Veteran's left inguinal herniorrhaphy scar is granted an initial 10 percent rating.,Other service connection claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of the back and lower extremity radiculopathy, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted his TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including PTSD, an eye disability, hearing loss in the right ear, cervical spine disability, bilateral knee disability, left foot disability, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities, and bilateral shoulder disabilities. The remand requires additional development to address the claims.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability with IVDS is granted a 60 percent evaluation, left lower extremity radiculopathy is denied any higher than 20 percent, and right knee disability is denied any higher than 10 percent. Total disability due to individual unemployability is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical herniated disc, spinal stenosis, and cervicalgia as well as left and right lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral pes cavus, right wrist joint pain tendonitis, acquired deformity of unequal leg length (secondary to service connected left hip trochanteris pain syndrome), right leg sciatica (secondary to service connected lumbosacral strain), and bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis have been remanded due to incomplete examinations.,Incomplete VA examinations were conducted for the Veteran's claims, necessitating further evaluations.

The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities prior to December 21, 2017.

The Veteran's appeals for effective dates earlier than September 14, 2017, for the grants of service connection and ratings for his radiculopathy conditions have been dismissed.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to April 16, 2021 due to his service-connected lumbar degenerative disease with scoliosis and peripheral radiculopathy of the right lower extremity.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for neurological impairment of the right lower extremity, including radiculopathy and sciatic neuropathy secondary to his already established lumbosacral strain (low back disability), is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding objective findings of these conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for a TDIU and denied an increased rating for type II diabetes mellitus. The claims of higher ratings for peripheral neuropathy and radiculopathy are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right hand degenerative arthritis, and left hand degenerative arthritis. Service connection was granted for PTSD with an initial rating of 70% prior to June 30, 2021.,The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for a right knee disability, left knee disability, left foot disability, esophageal disability, and intestinal disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes and hypertension were reopened due to the submission of new evidence. Service connection is granted for a lumbar spine disability, diagnosed as spondylolisthesis.,Service connection is granted for left lower extremity radiculopathy and right lower extremity radiculopathy, both secondary to the service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral dry eyes and conjunctivitis (claimed as residuals of flash burning bilateral eyes), migraine headaches, left knee disability, low back disability, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.,The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder has also been recharacterized.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is related to his active service, specifically a fall in 1982. However, the VA examiner found that the current condition and radicular symptoms are more likely due to post-service injuries and occupations than the in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for bilateral lower extremity sciatic and femoral nerve peripheral neuropathy due to unclear attribution of symptoms. The TDIU claim prior to July 13, 2015, is also remanded as it may be significantly impacted by the outcome of the rating decisions.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities is granted with a 20% rating, effective from October 2010. Separate ratings for femoral nerve impairment are granted starting July 15, 2018.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for meningitis, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity are not granted. The case is remanded to allow for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of current diagnoses or sufficient functional impairment to warrant higher ratings.