Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2023

The appeal regarding the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right lower extremity disability, claimed as sciatic nerve impairment, has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case due to an incorrect docketing and the need for a statement of the case addressing the issue of entitlement to an effective date prior of May 10, 2011, for the grant of service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claims for higher disability ratings for his lumbosacral strain, sciatic nerve radiculopathy, left and right knee strains, and lateral collateral ligament strain of the ankles are being remanded due to inadequate examinations and potential additional functional loss during flare-ups or repetitive use.

The Veteran's left knee instability, lumbosacral spine degenerative arthritis, right and left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy have been granted initial ratings of at least 10 percent each since June 20, 2007.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded for additional development to address employment history, the nature and etiology of service-connected disabilities, and other medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates prior to April 30, 2018, for the grant of service connection for various disabilities have been denied.,VA received an original formal claim on May 4, 2018, and granted service connection within one year after separation from active military service. The effective date set is the day following the Veteran's exit from active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's sciatic radiculopathy did not meet or approximate criteria for a higher rating prior to August 31, 2020 and from August 31, 2020 to June 28, 2021.

The Board has remanded the claims for a lumbar spine disability, neuropathy/radiculopathy of upper and lower extremities due to unresolved issues with medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate rationale in previous VA examination opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected right foot disability and his claimed back and knee disabilities. The Veteran is requested to provide additional evidence, including medical literature and recent VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are rated at 40 percent effective May 31, 2006 for the back condition and September 15, 2013 for the bilateral radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for his service-connected right and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The claims are also remanded to consider a TDIU prior to April 20, 2011.

The Board has remanded several claims, including those related to the Veteran's lower extremity radiculopathy and lumbar spine disability. The Veteran is also being asked to provide authorization for VA treatment records and to undergo a VA examination.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection and ratings for various conditions, including erectile dysfunction, degenerative disease of the lumbar spine with retrolisthesis of L3-L4 and L4-L5, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity. The remand is due to additional VA treatment records being added to the claims file.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities and their relationship to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his PTSD and TBI, have rendered him unable to dress or undress himself and require regular aid and attendance due to his mental incapacity.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating of a back disability due to deficiencies in VA examinations. The Veteran's complaints of numbness are also being considered as they may raise a claim for cervical spine condition with left arm radiculopathy.

The Board has granted an initial 20 percent rating for service-connected right lower extremity radiculopathy, finding the disability most analogous to moderate incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent from February 1, 2016 to November 22, 2022. The claim for increased ratings for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy affecting the femoral nerves remains in appellate status.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is rated at 40 percent since March 22, 2018.,The Veteran's left side sciatica is rated at 40 percent since March 22, 2018.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating. The Veteran was granted TDIU based on her service-connected disabilities.