Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sciatica of the left and right lower extremities, and lumbosacral strain due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The claims are being remanded because there is a possibility that the Veteran was exposed to toxic exposure risk activities during her military service.

The Veteran's tension headaches are not rated as compensable due to the lack of characteristic prostrating attacks.,Service connection for radiculopathy, left and right lower extremities is denied because there is no diagnosis of such conditions in the evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and a TDIU is granted for the period prior to October 4, 2021.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection awards of cervical spine disability and RUE radiculopathy have been denied.,The Veteran's initial claim for a cervical spine disability was filed on December 9, 2016. The Board found that the date of entitlement arose prior to this date.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for left and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy with restless leg syndrome have been granted at a 20 percent rating each.,The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for a neck disorder and an initial compensable evaluation for hemorrhoids.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to August 1, 2017, for service connection for left and right upper extremity radiculopathy are denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability is granted with an effective date of August 1, 2017.,The Veteran's claims for secondary service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee disability, and right knee disability are granted.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability and right shoulder disability are remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a headache disability is remanded.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with osteoarthritis, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with osteoarthritis, right shoulder impingement syndrome, left shoulder impingement syndrome, bilateral pes planus, and lumbar spine DDD are granted.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability and left upper extremity radiculopathy due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the onset of these conditions in or related to service. The Veteran is instructed to provide more detail on what is wrong with the April 2021 VA examiner's opinion, and an updated examination will be ordered.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and type 2 diabetes mellitus, both of which the Veteran contends were caused by herbicide exposure. The Board found no evidence of chronic low back symptoms during or immediately following service, and the Veteran's denial of recurrent back pain at separation is persuasive against his claim.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU is dismissed. The Board has remanded the claims of higher ratings for DDD of the lumbar spine, left lower extremity radiculopathy associated with DDD of the lumbar spine, and a left ankle disability.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy did not preclude him from securing and following any substantially gainful employment from August 10, 2016 to April 30, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 are being remanded due to procedural errors and the need for additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for nerve damage (sciatica) of both legs due to additional evidence being added to the record.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for stroke residuals. The decision on aid and attendance is pending as it was not decided in this appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypothyroidism, left lower extremity sciatica, and right lower extremity sciatica due to a lack of VA examination in light of current disabilities and an in-service element.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back condition and sciatica as secondary to his low back condition. The evidence is in approximate balance that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and a compensable rating have been dismissed as he requested to withdraw all issues on appeal.

The Board is remanding the cases for further action due to outstanding SSA records and a duty to assist error.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hip condition, right ankle strain, lumbosacral strain, muscle injury of the left thigh and calf, and sciatica. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to active service or service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no current diagnosis or medical evidence linking her claimed conditions to her military service.