Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2023

The Board has decided to remand the claims for additional evidentiary development due to outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of an injury to the right-hand ulnar nerve distribution with CTS resulted in moderate incomplete paralysis of the median nerve, warranting a 50% rating. Service connection for cervical radiculopathy was denied as it is not related to his service-connected condition.

The Board has granted effective dates of May 14, 2012 for service connection of right sciatic and right femoral RSD. However, the Veteran's claims for higher ratings and TDIU are remanded due to need for additional development.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and effective dates have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating of 20 percent for lumbar radiculopathy with sciatica in the left lower extremity has been granted. Additionally, his TDIU claim has also been granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete development and need for clarification of the left hip diagnosis. The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine degenerative arthritis may have aggravated his claimed hip disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathy, as well as his claim for TDIU due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal regarding left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy was denied, and the psychiatric disability appeal is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for restoration of the 40 percent rating for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine is granted. The claims for a higher rating for cervical strain and right lower extremity radiculopathy are denied, but she was granted TDIU effective July 12, 2015.

The Veteran's hearing loss and sciatic nerve radiculopathy, left lower extremity, are being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for updated examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for thoracolumbar degenerative joint disease with muscle spasm and radiculopathy of the lower extremities due to incomplete examination results. The Veteran will need further medical evaluations.

The Veteran's appeal involves a rating for degenerative disc disease, chronic lumbosacral strain/pain syndrome and an initial rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve. The case is on remand due to additional evidence received since the August 2019 statement of the case.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical disc disease with radiculopathy is granted. The Board found that the evidence was in approximate balance and decided in favor of the Veteran, finding his current condition likely related to his active service.

The Board has dismissed all initial rating claims and earlier effective date claims for the Veteran's service-connected disabilities due to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to February 24, 2011. The Board granted an earlier effective date of September 24, 2004 for the grant of SMC(k).

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, peripheral vascular disease of the left and right lower extremities, and sciatic nerve peripheral neuropathy have been denied as his conditions do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.

Your right lower extremity radiculopathy has been rated at 10 percent since May 2011. However, due to a severance of service connection effective March 1, 2016, you are no longer eligible for an increased rating.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for erythema nodosum has been dismissed due to the appellant's request for withdrawal.,The Board is remanding several issues including tinnitus, acid reflux disease, astigmatism, presbyopia, myopia, cervical dysplasia, uterine fibroids, left knee Baker's cyst, demyelinating disease, bilateral foot neuropathy, and bilateral lower extremity sciatic nerve disability for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity are being remanded due to new evidence. The case must be reviewed again with consideration of this additional information.