Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2024

The Veteran seeks earlier effective dates for service connection grants, but the Board finds no legal basis to grant these claims.,The Veteran's anxiety disorder claim was reopened and granted in June 2014 with an effective date of September 17, 2012.

Service connection is granted for neck and back disabilities, but the claims of service connection for bilateral shoulder and left hip conditions are remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his claims through his attorney.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected right knee disabilities. The cervical spine disability claim is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to a withdrawal of the appeal by the appellant.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied. The Board finds the evidence does not support a higher rating, as his current level of hearing acuity is at worst Level II in both ears. For left cubital tunnel syndrome and radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, the claims are remanded due to insufficient development or examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim of service connection for a back condition is remanded due to the lack of an adequate medical opinion linking his current back conditions to service. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has denied service connection for cervical DJD/spondylosis, cervical foraminal stenosis/central stenosis, mechanical cervical pain syndrome, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during or are otherwise related to service.

The appeal concerning the reductions of ratings for right hip trochanteric bursitis and left lower extremity radiculopathy was dismissed because the reduction had not gone into effect when the Veteran filed his appeal in July 2021.

The Board has granted an effective date of April 11, 2019 for the award of service connection of left and right sciatic nerve radiculopathy associated with lumbosacral strain. An initial rating of 100 percent for coronary artery disease is also granted.

The Board has granted an effective date of April 11, 2019 for the award of service connection of left and right sciatic nerve radiculopathy due to lumbosacral strain disability. The Veteran's coronary artery disease is also rated at 100% since September 24, 2013.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple conditions has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of the appeal by the Veteran and his attorney.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for tinnitus, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of her appeal by her authorized representative.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee arthritis, low back condition, and right sciatica. The evidence shows that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service, particularly due to the number of jumps he performed as a paratrooper.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings and service connection due to lack of evidence showing disability manifestations prior to April 14, 2021.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, specifically degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and radiculopathy right lower extremity, are alleged to have caused or aggravated his sleep apnea. The Board finds a pre-decisional duty to assist error in not addressing this theory of entitlement and requires a new VA examination.

The Board granted service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy effective from September 17, 2022. An initial 20 percent rating was granted for the condition prior to July 18, 2023, and denied a higher rating thereafter. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was not found to be service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing all issues related to PTSD, lumbar spine disorder, radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, and hypertension.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for increased ratings of left and right lower extremity radiculopathies, as well as a higher rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis prior to December 12, 2015.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU was also REMANDED.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, LUE and RUE cervical radiculopathy were granted service connection as they are considered to be directly related to his military service.