Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims of service connection for back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy (claimed as numbness), left lower extremity radiculopathy (claimed as numbness), right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability are dismissed.,The Veteran's claim to reopen entitlement to service connection for bilateral pes planus is reopened.,The Veteran's claim to reopen entitlement to service connection for right knee disability is reopened.,The Veteran's claim to reopen entitlement to service connection for left knee disability (claimed as chronic knee strain post fracture of the left lateral femoral condyle) is reopened.,The Veteran's claim to reopen entitlement to service connection for right shin splint disability is reopened.,The Veteran's claim to reopen entitlement to service connection for left shin splint disability is reopened.,The Veteran's claim to reopen entitlement to service connection for right wrist disability is reopened.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, left leg sciatica, and lumbar spine disability has been remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy, both secondary to the Veteran's service-connected thoracic spine strain.,Service connection was denied for a speech disability as it is not shown by the probative evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee and hip disabilities, including radiculopathy, due to insufficient VA examination opinions addressing causation and aggravation.

All issues related to service connection have been either granted in full or finally denied by the Board without subsequent appeal.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a peripheral nerve condition, including cervical radiculopathy and/or peripheral neuropathy as due to herbicide exposure, is denied. The Board found no direct or presumptive evidence linking the current condition to his military service.

The Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease with IVDS and lower extremity radiculopathy are currently rated at the maximum available under VA regulations. The Board has remanded these issues for further development.

The Veteran requested withdrawal of his claims for increased rating for left knee bursitis and service connection for sleep apnea, GERD, headaches, and sacral radiculopathy. The Board dismissed these claims as the appellant has withdrawn them.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy prior to July 19, 2018, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter was denied.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left lower extremities varicose veins were also denied.,The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating for either condition.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, Type II and associated diabetic neuropathy disabilities have prevented him from engaging in substantially gainful employment since February 8, 2018. He is also entitled to special monthly compensation at the housebound rate due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities for the period from September 27, 2012 to December 28, 2015 and for the period from December 29, 2015 to present.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and his claim for TDIU is therefore denied.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy at the sciatic nerve is rated as 20 percent disabling, effective October 27, 2020.,The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy at the sciatic nerve is also rated as 20 percent disabling, effective October 27, 2020.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities due to inadequate evaluation in a previous VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating increases are being remanded due to the receipt of additional VA treatment records. The Board will review all evidence, including new records, and issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity radiculopathy were previously rated at 20 percent, effective August 13, 2012. The Veteran now seeks higher ratings.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was increased to 40 percent effective May 8, 2019.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of service connection for degenerative arthritis and spinal stenosis, lumbosacral spine, with left lower extremity radiculopathy and a right ankle injury are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has denied service connection for a right leg disorder and TDIU due to the lack of evidence linking any current disabilities to service. The appellant's claims are based on his short period of active duty training (ADT) in 1982, but there is no credible evidence of a fall injury or related disability during that time.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine DDD and DJD, left lower extremity L5 radiculopathy, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder were denied. The appeal of the temporary total rating based on surgical convalescence following left hip replacement surgery was dismissed as moot.