Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2023

The Veteran's urge incontinence is rated at 60 percent from September 11, 2017 to December 9, 2019. A higher rating of over 60 percent for this period is denied. The Veteran's neck disability is rated at 20 percent since August 15, 2011 and 20 percent thereafter. An initial rating of 50 percent for her right upper extremity radiculopathy is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including a VA opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's Parkinson's disease residuals. The issues include rating higher than 20 percent for Parkinson's disease residuals of the upper and lower extremities.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, effective May 30, 2013. The Board finds the Veteran unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity radiculopathies involving the sciatic nerve are rated at 20 percent each, effective February 9, 2017. The Veteran's right and left lower extremity radiculopathies affecting the femoral nerve are also rated at 20 percent each, effective October 24, 2022.

The Veteran's left upper extremity radiculopathy is granted, and a 40 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted from July 22, 2011.,Entitlement to service connection for fecal incontinence secondary to service-connected left lower extremity radiculopathy is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy and a bilateral hand condition (other than CTS), including numbness and arthritis.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability and upper extremity radiculopathy were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his service-connected post-operative intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) and associated radiculopathies are being remanded due to the need for further development regarding the severity of his thoracolumbar spine disorder.,The Veteran's separate ratings for right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, as well as right and left femoral nerve radiculopathy, remain on appeal.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, secondary to type two diabetes mellitus, was granted a 20 percent disability rating prior to July 21, 2018.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbosacral strain, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy associated with lumbosacral strain. The issues are related to the severity of these conditions and their impact on the Veteran's functional ability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to December 8, 2011, finding that there was no evidence showing he became unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities within one year prior to his claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to incomplete medical records, inadequate examination reports, and conflicting employment history.

The Veteran's initial ratings for spondylolisthesis with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been denied.,The Board found that during the entire initial rating period on appeal, from April 9, 2013, to January 4, 2015, the service-connected conditions did not meet or more nearly approximate the criteria for higher disability ratings.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection in multiple conditions, including lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right eye macular degeneration, right knee disorder, tinnitus, and left ear hearing loss. The earliest effective date assigned was January 14, 2014.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for thoracolumbar spine disability, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to potential inadequacies in the previous VA examination report. The issues are intertwined with the back issue and require further medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the cases for a new VA medical examination and opinion to determine if the Veteran's claimed disabilities are related to his active service, including documented injuries in service.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings on his back and right leg disabilities have been dismissed as he has withdrawn all remaining claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for a higher initial rating for lumbar degenerative disc disease, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II, bilateral neuropathy of the legs, and TDIU are being remanded as there is insufficient information regarding his military service in Vietnam.,The Veteran's appeals for chronic sinusitis, cervical spine disability, bilateral arm radiculopathy, and allergic rhinitis are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's appeal for TDIU prior to January 15, 2020 is being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with other claims that require further development.,,,

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to determine the current nature and severity of his service-connected back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and PTSD.