Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to assess the severity of his service-connected bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies and right thumb disabilities, including scars.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is related to his military service.,The Veteran's neck disability is related to his military service.,The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy is related to his military service.,The Veteran's low back disability is aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to January 21, 2021 for the grant of service connection for chronic ulnar mononeuropathy with carpal tunnel syndrome was denied.,The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for TDIU prior to January 21, 2021 was also denied.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to duty-to-assist errors. The AOJ is required to obtain a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed lumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathy of the bilateral legs have been granted service connection, but an earlier effective date is denied.,Service connection for tinnitus has been granted, but an earlier effective date is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for RLE radiculopathy but denied service connection for a neck disability. The Veteran's current diagnoses are considered in approximate balance, leading to the grant of service connection for RLE radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis, gastroesophageal reflux disorder, gout, right lower extremity radiculopathy, right upper extremity radiculopathy, hypertension, aortic aneurysm, and diabetes mellitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis, gastroesophageal reflux disorder, gout, right lower extremity radiculopathy, right upper extremity radiculopathy, hypertension, aortic aneurysm, and diabetes mellitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and temporary total evaluation due to additional development being needed under VA's duty to assist.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are each granted a 20 percent rating.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted service connection as secondary to his back disability.,Issues of increased ratings for the Veteran's back disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and cause of death remain unresolved.

The Veteran's claims for a right hand disability, left lower extremity sciatica, and right lower extremity sciatica secondary to his service-connected back condition are being remanded due to the need for additional development of private treatment records and an addendum opinion regarding lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus and related peripheral neuropathies were granted increased ratings, while hypertension was also granted. Service connection for PVD was denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development to determine if the Veteran's radiculopathy, cervical spine disability, erectile dysfunction, right knee disability, and left hip disability are related to service or any other relevant factors.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his lumbar spine and lower extremity musculoskeletal and neurological conditions, necessitate regular aid and attendance of another person. The evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether these conditions result in the need for such assistance.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a grant of service connection in September 2023, and there are no remaining issues for consideration.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right leg disability, including as secondary to his service-connected lumbosacral strain. The issues of increased ratings for left lower extremity radiculopathy and lumbosacral strain due to spondylolysis L-5, S1 are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine, as well as radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, are granted with a 40 percent evaluation. Additionally, he is granted TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy have been denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or causal relationship to his military service.

The Veteran's ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy were reinstated to 20 percent effective October 19, 2017. The TDIU was also reinstated on the basis of substitution.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed as the appellant has withdrawn her appeal on all issues.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating and earlier effective date for her radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is being remanded due to inadequate examination.