Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2024

The Veteran's headaches (migraines) are found to be due to his military service, and service connection is granted. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for left foot condition, right foot condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, left wrist condition, left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, lower back condition, sciatica with numbness (LLE), and sciatica with numbness (RLE).

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a neck disability, including associated neurological impairments (including radiculopathy), due to inadequate examination and opinion. The case is returned for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for sciatica to allow for correction of pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including obtaining additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date than November 1, 2013 for additional dependency benefits for his spouse was denied as he did not provide all necessary information to establish his entitlement within one year of the April 2012 rating decision.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disability, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy. The evidence does not establish a relationship between these conditions and active service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and bilateral lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy have been granted service connection, with the latter being secondary to his primary back disability.,An initial 50 percent rating for tension headaches has been granted, reflecting very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are remanded due to the use of outdated examinations and outstanding VA treatment records. The RO must obtain updated examinations and consider new evidence.

The Veteran's disability rating for radiculopathy, left lower extremity, was restored to 20 percent effective October 6, 2020. The Board found the reduction from 20 percent to 10 percent improper and ordered a remand for further evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for further evaluation due to a lack of adequate examination and duty to assist errors.

The Board denied higher ratings for the Veteran's left and right lower extremity radiculopathies, both rated at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for neck disability, right shoulder disability, and left upper extremity radiculopathy due to duty-to-assist errors prior to the September 2020 rating decision on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability evaluation for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity sciatic nerve is granted, with a final effective date not specified.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to November 20, 2017. The TDIU claim is granted.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, but has remanded the issues of entitlement to higher evaluations and earlier effective dates.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates as the appeal is no longer valid due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has restored the Veteran's ratings for right and left lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy from noncompensable to 20 percent effective March 1, 2021.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and increased ratings for his service-connected right knee degenerative joint disease, lumbar spine disability, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity sciatic branch. The issues were addressed in a prior decision that is final.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent from March 22, 2010. He also received separate ratings of 10 percent for his right and left lower extremity radiculopathy during the appeal period.,The Veteran was granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative arthritis and right upper extremity radiculopathy have been granted increased evaluations of 30 percent each, but no higher.