Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and radiculopathies of the femoral and sciatic nerves of bilateral lower extremities. The Veteran's headaches are also found to be related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is aggravated by his service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to inadequate medical opinions and outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis and IVDS of the thoracolumbar spine, as well as radiculopathy in both lower extremities, are being remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The VA examinations provided were insufficient for adjudication purposes.

The Veteran's initial claim for a thoracolumbar spine disorder was granted, and he is now rated at 20 percent disabled. The issues of service connection for radiculopathy of the lower extremities and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, left upper extremity radiculopathy (claimed as a left hand/finger disability), and headaches are granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected left shoulder disability. A compensable rating of 10 percent is assigned for the left shoulder scar.

The Board has vacated the June 4, 2024 decision and remanded for further action on claims of effective dates and ratings for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction and peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve were rated at 20 percent each, with no higher ratings granted.,Separate 10 percent ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy involving the femoral nerve were granted.

The Board has determined that the reduction in ratings for IVDS, RLE radiculopathy, and LLE radiculopathy from 20 percent to 10 percent, noncompensable respectively, effective March 29, 2021 is proper. The Veteran's appeal for restoration of these ratings has been denied.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for obstructive sleep apnea and sciatic neuropathy of the right lower extremity were denied. The Veteran was granted TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, leading to a grant of special monthly compensation at the aid and attendance rate.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder acromioclavicular joint arthritis and impingement syndrome, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, and left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy. Service connection was denied for migraine headaches.

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

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to concerns about credibility and additional evidence needed, including VistA records.

The Veteran's initial claim for service connection for a back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy was denied in February 2006. The appeal is on the issue of effective dates.,Effective ratings were granted for left lower extremity radiculopathy and right lower extremity radiculopathy, but not for the back disability.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and effective dates related to his service-connected conditions has been granted. The issues of entitlement to a TDIU, Dependents' Educational Assistance, and the specific rating increases have all been resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates are denied as they lack legal merit due to the finality of his January 1993 denial of service connection. The appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's application for Legacy S-DVI insurance was denied because it was not received within two years of the most recent grant of service connection, which occurred in October 2018. The Veteran did not meet the eligibility criteria as per 38 U.S.C. § 1922(a).

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings in various conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the appeal process.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted increased ratings, with the effective date set at March 6, 2017.,Right lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve has also been granted an evaluation of 40 percent from February 6, 2019.