Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2024

The Veteran's IHD is rated at a maximum of 60 percent effective October 5, 2020.,Basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits was established as of the same date.

The Veteran's claim for tinnitus is granted as it was incurred in service.,The claims of entitlement to service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy are dismissed as they were already granted in a previous decision.,The claims of entitlement to service connection for lumbar spine disorder, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of December 7, 2018 for the award of service connection for depression with anxiety.,Service connection for radiculopathy in the left lower extremity as secondary to lumbar spine disability is granted. The Board also found that there was a current diagnosis of radiculopathy during the appeal period and remanded for further examination.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for radiculopathy in the right upper extremity, including as secondary to lumbar spine disability and/or left shoulder disability, is remanded. The Board also found that there was a current diagnosis of radiculopathy during the appeal period and remanded for further examination.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for radiculopathy in the left upper extremity, including as secondary to lumbar spine disability and/or left shoulder disability, is remanded. The Board also found that there was a current diagnosis of radiculopathy during the appeal period and remanded for further examination.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 9, 2019 for basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits under 38 U.S.C. chapter 35 is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her lumbar spine and bilateral radiculopathy conditions were denied. The rating for the lumbar spine condition remains at 40 percent, while the initial disability ratings for bilateral radiculopathy are denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of hypertension, left side sciatica, right side sciatica, and vertigo as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome is currently rated at 20 percent, and his right lower extremity radiculopathy is also rated at 20 percent. The appeal for a higher rating for the lumbosacral strain has been denied.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from April 21, 2018 to January 25, 2021 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, cervical spine strain, bilateral knee disability, right ankle sprain, lumbar spine strain, tinnitus, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, prevent him from securing substantially gainful employment. The Board granted TDIU based on the cumulative effects of these conditions.

The claims for service connection for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities have been dismissed as they were granted in a July 2024 rating decision.,The claim for service connection for dizziness and vertigo has been denied due to lack of current disability manifestation.

The Veteran's skin conditions, gastrointestinal problems, cervical spine disability, left upper extremity radiculopathy, left arm/forearm disability, and left hand disability are all granted as service-connected. The Veteran's left shoulder disability is also granted.

Your appeal regarding the service connection for right-side radiculopathy of the femoral nerve has been dismissed because you withdrew your appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine and associated radiculopathy claims require additional examination to assess his functional impairment throughout the applicable rating period, including during flare-ups and after repeated use over time. The ratings for the right and left upper extremities are also remanded due to inconsistencies in the evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left lower extremity peripheral artery disease and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, result in the loss of use of both lower extremities. The Board has granted eligibility for specially adapted housing due to these conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal in its entirety, including the issues of service connection for low back disorder, erectile dysfunction, right leg radiculopathy, and left leg radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for a lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease was denied. The claims for evaluations of 40 percent, but not in excess thereof, for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities were granted.

The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve is granted an initial increased rating of 40 percent, effective February 11, 2019. The left lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve is granted a separate initial disability rating of 30 percent, also effective February 11, 2019.

Effective dates of August 15, 2020 are granted for service connection for various knee and back conditions.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve in both lower extremities and radiculopathy of the femoral nerve in the right and left lower extremities have been granted increased ratings. The Veteran is now rated at 40 percent for RLE radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, 20 percent for LLE radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, 20 percent for RLE radiculopathy of the femoral nerve, and 30 percent for LLE radiculopathy of the femoral nerve. These ratings are subject to payment of monetary benefits.,The decision is based on objective medical evidence showing moderate to severe incomplete paralysis of the sciatic and femoral nerves in both lower extremities.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability with IVDS, right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve have all been granted initial ratings.,A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) has also been granted from December 16, 2012.

The Board has denied increased ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, bilateral plantar fasciitis, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.