Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to potential Agent Orange exposure, and a TERA-specific examination is required. The examiner must consider total potential exposure through all applicable military deployments and the synergistic, combined effect of all toxic risk activities.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his service-connected Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board has remanded these matters for further development, including new VA examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU and DEA was granted effective December 1, 2003. The Board found that the Veteran met the schedular criteria for TDIU from this date.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and TDIU due to his death during the appeal process.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, spondylolysis, spondylolisthesis, and lumbar spondylosis with myelopathy, is granted an initial 50 percent rating since May 14, 2001. His right and left lower extremity radiculopathies are each granted initial 40 percent ratings since May 14, 2001.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to conflicting opinions and a need for further examination.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for cervical spine stenosis and left upper extremity radiculopathy, finding that no new and material evidence or notice of disagreement had been filed to keep the claims open.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for further development of her claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for an orthopedic injury autoimmune reaction, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.,The issues of service connection for lumbar spine disability and piriformis syndrome with sciatica and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have been denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's request for withdrawal of the appeals.

The Board has restored service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, effective December 1, 2018, as the evidence did not show that improvement in the service-connected lumbar strain would be maintained under ordinary conditions of life.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, including osteoarthritis and radiculopathy, is related to an in-service fall. The Board has determined that the criteria for service connection have been met.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher disability ratings for his shoulder, spine, elbow, knee, and tension headaches disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus disability is granted as service-connected. The claims for increased ratings of the back and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of left foot neuropathy and right foot neuropathy. The Veteran is also entitled to a TDIU from May 12, 2015.,Service connection has been established for back impairment, lumbar degenerative disc disease, left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress, and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The evidence did not establish a direct relationship between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy is granted at a 40% rating from March 4, 2019 to July 11, 2022.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including low back disability and radiculopathy in both legs, render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy and sciatic nerve conditions have been granted increased ratings effective April 13, 2022. The right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is rated at 40 percent, the left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy at 30 percent, the right lower extremity sciatic peripheral neuropathy at 20 percent, and the left lower extremity sciatic peripheral neuropathy at 20 percent.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is being remanded for further development due to inadequate examination and potential missing service treatment records.