Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2023

The Veteran's right knee and left knee chondromalacia were not found to meet the criteria for a rating greater than 10 percent.,The Veteran's right shoulder disorder with post-operative residuals was not found to meet the criteria for a rating greater than 20 percent.

The Board has granted effective dates of January 18, 2007 for the assignment of a separate compensable rating for LUE radiculopathy and for the grant of service connection for RUE radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to service-connected lumbar DDD and LLE femoral radiculopathy. The case is being returned for further development, including a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and private treatment records.

The Board has found that remand is required to obtain an updated VA examination for the Veteran's lumbar spine and radiculopathy disabilities due to worsening symptoms since her last examination in March 2019.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ratings for various knee conditions and other musculoskeletal disorders. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical records from private providers that have been scanned into VISTA imaging system.

The appeal for service connection of a lumbar spine condition and associated radiculopathy is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for a rating greater than 10 percent for right carpal tunnel syndrome is remanded due to the addition of new VA treatment records. The TDIU claim remains pending and will be readjudicated after all evidence has been considered.

The Veteran's LLE radiculopathy is being remanded for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his symptoms.

The Veteran's DDD of the cervical spine, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted increased ratings. SMC at the housebound rate has also been granted.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) is dismissed. The case is remanded for further development, including a VA examination and consideration of TDIU prior to May 11, 2016.

The Veteran's right knee, right hip, left hip, and bilateral foot conditions are granted as secondary to his service-connected low back condition and sciatic and femoral radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.,A 20 percent disability rating for left lower extremity femoral radiculopathy is granted from September 19, 2021.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to October 10, 2018 due to a lack of evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, sciatica of the right lower extremity as secondary to a low back disability, and sinusitis. Service connection for a right ankle disability is being remanded.,Service connection is granted for a low back disability, sciatica of the right lower extremity, and sinusitis. The right ankle disability issue remains pending and will be addressed in a separate decision.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and to determine if they are related to his military service. The case is being remanded for these purposes.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for another VA examination and to consider secondary service connection claims. The Veteran's condition of residuals injury right hand ulnar distribution is being reviewed, along with his complex regional pain syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, and cervical radiculopathy.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to November 3, 2022. Effective from that date, he is granted special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's lumbar radiculopathy and herniated disc at L5-S1 have been rated based on their severity, with the highest ratings assigned for the periods prior to October 27, 2021, and since that date. The Board has determined that additional development is needed due to a lack of compliance with VA examination requirements.,The Veteran's lumbar radiculopathy and herniated disc at L5-S1 have been rated based on their severity, with the highest ratings assigned for the periods prior to October 26, 2021, and since that date. The Board has determined that additional development is needed due to a lack of compliance with VA examination requirements.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating higher than 20 percent for his lumbar spine disorder has been denied. The Board found that the Veteran's flexion was at worst 55 degrees with painful motion, which did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's RUE radiculopathy with right-hand CTS was granted a rating of 40 percent, effective September 21, 2012.