Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2023

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for his service-connected right leg radiculopathy, finding that the disability is predominantly manifested by mild symptoms such as numbness and pain.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development on issues including service connection for hip disabilities, TDIU, and SMC.,No effective date earlier than December 13, 2016, was granted for the grant of a 40 percent rating for degenerative disc disease of lumbar spine.

The Board has granted service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy and urinary incontinence, but the appeal is dismissed as these issues have been fully resolved.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including unspecified depressive disorder and traumatic spondylolythesis, fracture left articular facet of L-5, have resulted in unemployability effective April 30, 2018.

The Veteran's service-connected herniated disc disease, L4-L5, with adjacent level disease at L3-L4 status post laminectomy and fusion L3-L5, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, surgical scars of the lumbar spine, bilateral knee disabilities are all remanded for further evaluation.,The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder, recurrent episode, moderate, with generalized anxiety disorder is also remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis is rated at 40 percent, but no higher. The Veteran's left lumbar radiculopathy is rated at 20 percent from June 16, 2017, and denied for a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disorders and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine if his current disabilities are related to his in-service injury.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability and associated left lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate disorder, heart disorder, and hypertension have been denied.,The Veteran's right knee disorder, lumbar spine disorder, sciatica, and respiratory disorder claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for ratings of lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, left leg radiculopathy, right leg radiculopathy, and bilateral hearing loss as the appellant withdrew his appeal through his authorized representative.

The Veteran's TDIU claim prior to August 19, 2017 was denied as he had been employed full-time and able to secure a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 100 percent from February 29, 2012. The RO denied entitlement to a TDIU prior to February 29, 2012, or based on a single service-connected disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, which is currently considered a service-connected condition. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has dismissed all appeals as the Veteran died during the pendency of these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding service connection for a left shoulder disability and whether the Veteran's current radiculopathy is related to his in-service injury.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and TDIU were dismissed due to his death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraine headaches, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity due to inadequate examinations in June 2020. The VA is instructed to obtain new VA examinations addressing the Veteran's complaints and provide her with a copy of the examiner's curriculum vitae.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations for diabetes mellitus, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve in both lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction were denied. The criteria for higher ratings under VA rating criteria were not met.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral nerve disorders of the lower extremities and lumbar radiculopathy, finding that there is no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after service. The Veteran's symptoms were attributed to nonservice-connected spinal issues.