Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2023

The Veteran's right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy is granted as secondary to his service-connected low back disability. The claim for right ear hearing loss remains denied.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease with myelopathy was dismissed. The claim for TDIU based on service-connected disabilities is granted, but the earlier effective date claim is remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for hepatitis C, thoracolumbar spine disorder, left and right lower extremity sciatica, and a psychiatric disorder. The case is being remanded to obtain a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric condition is related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment from December 10, 2010, to December 20, 2020. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records, including missing service treatment records. The Veteran is asked to provide releases for private medical records and complete VA Forms 21-4142.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on four service-connected conditions have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the claim of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a neurologic disability of the bilateral lower extremities, including sciatica and ilioinguinal neuropathy, due to or aggravated by her service-connected lumbosacral strain. The AOJ is instructed to obtain medical opinions addressing these issues.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy is granted at 40 percent for the period prior to February 3, 2022, and 20 percent thereafter under Diagnostic Codes 8520 and 8526. The TDIU issue remains in appellate status.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to new VA treatment records and ongoing treatment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left elbow disorder is denied, and his increased disability rating for LLE radiculopathy is granted at 40% effective July 26, 2023.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition, finding that there is no medical evidence linking his current back condition to his active duty service. The right and left knee conditions have been remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic thoracolumbar pain, segmental and somatic dysfunction of the lumbar and thoracic region, ankylosing spondylitis of the cervical spine, neuralgia sciatic nerve, and neuralgia of all three radicular groups.,The Board also remanded the issue of a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for stress fracture right inferior pubic ramus.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in the December 2021 VA examination and opinion regarding the impairment of peripheral nerves in the Veteran's right lower extremity, specifically the sciatic nerve.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the claims related to radiculopathy of the upper extremities, ankle sprains, and cervical pain with degenerative arthritis. The Board dismissed these appeals as a result.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lower back disability, radiculopathies, and hearing loss, have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment since July 28, 2022. The Board has granted TDIU based on the combined effect of these conditions.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for radiculopathy of the right upper extremity as the Veteran withdrew their request for a hearing and the issue is not under consideration.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, finding that his current condition is due to injuries sustained during active duty service and continuing since.

The Veteran's initial ratings for left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve, as well as his Charcot's arthropathy of the right foot, have been granted. He also received separate ratings for partial amputation of the right foot 4th digit and metatarsal head resections due to chronic ulcers in the right feet (2nd and 3rd digits).

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of July 31, 2015, for the award of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy associated with left below the knee amputation allowing prosthesis with patellofemoral pain syndrome is granted. The effective date is based on the date the original claim was filed.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted with an initial evaluation of 70 percent. Service connection for cervicothoracic spine pain, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left ear hearing loss are all granted.