Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2023

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. Effective dates for PTSD, right shoulder (major) degenerative arthritis and rotator cuff tendonitis, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy are denied as the claim was not filed within one year of separation from service. The Veteran's TDIU prior to September 1, 2020 is dismissed due to mootness.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve peripheral neuropathy ratings, as well as TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for tension headaches, radiculopathy of the radial nerve, and degenerative disc disease with cervical spondylitic myelopathy have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of these claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings and effective dates due to inadequate examinations, and also for a TDIU and SMC based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability and bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence of chronic conditions in service or within one year after discharge.,Service connection was not granted as the Veteran's current disabilities are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to new evidence submitted after the issuance of a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC). The claims include service connection for bilateral eye condition, liver condition, back condition, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy. Additional VA examinations are needed to address the etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, asthma, COPD, radiculopathy of the upper and lower extremities, prostate cancer, and CAD.,Service connection was not granted for any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for chronic urinary tract infections, radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, and lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis due to a lack of ascertainable increase in disability within one year prior to November 2, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including DDD of the lumbar spine, bilateral knee osteoarthritis, GERD, and bilateral lower extremities radiculopathy, have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since August 4, 2011. The Board has granted a TDIU for this period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity due to new evidence submitted within one year of the previous denial. The Veteran contends his current symptoms are related to a 1972 in-service injury during flag football.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information and need for additional examinations. The Veteran's back disability is being evaluated again, including a new VA examination and retrospective opinion.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to ambiguities in the VA examination reports and the need for additional information regarding the Veteran's cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's left upper extremity radiculopathy was granted a 30 percent disability rating from March 4, 2010 to June 30, 2019.,From July 1, 2019 to December 10, 2021, the Veteran's left upper extremity radiculopathy was denied a higher than 30 percent disability rating.

The Board denied service connection for a neck disability and remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral foot disability other than calluses, to include plantar fasciitis.

The Board denied SMC based on the need for aid and attendance, finding that her functional impairments were not solely caused by service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, bilateral lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and bilateral lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy due to outstanding treatment records and conflicting evidence regarding the presence of radiculopathy and intervertebral disc syndrome throughout the period on appeal.

The Veteran's back disability is granted as service connected, with a finding of continuity of symptomatology since separation from service.,Secondary service connection for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities (sciatic nerve) is also granted.

The Board denied service connection for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding no current diagnosis or causal relationship to service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as his range of motion does not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hand disorder, including arthritis and cervical radiculopathy, finding that there is no evidence of such disorders in service or within one year of discharge. The current conditions are not related to service-connected disabilities.