Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and providing a retrospective opinion on the severity of his lumbar and cervical spine disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, migraine headaches, PTSD, and PCOS have all been denied.,An initial evaluation in excess of the current ratings has not been granted for any condition.

The Veteran's left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have been granted increased ratings of 40 percent each, effective from September 12, 2014, for the left side and June 1, 2016, for the right side. The TDIU rating is also granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various upper extremity and lower extremity disabilities, including those related to his service-connected left foot joint pain, right foot joint pain, and lumbosacral strain, have been denied due to the Veteran failing to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for their cervical spine, left foot, and right lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities were denied. The Board found that the current assigned ratings adequately reflected the severity of the disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating have been denied.,An effective date of February 14, 2020 is granted for the awards of service connection and increased rating.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is granted. Claims for lumbar spine disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder are remanded due to lack of sufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine disability is now rated at 40 percent, effective from the date of this decision.

The Board denied service connection for a back scar, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral hip disability as secondary to osteomyelitis of the spine due to lack of service connection for osteomyelitis of the spine.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability manifested by sciatic radicular pain and paresthesia in her right and left lower extremities, or right ulnar paresthesia.,Service connection for these conditions is denied as there is no persuasive evidence of their existence during service or at any time since.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, femoral nerve, as no such conditions were shown prior to November 14, 2020.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a cervical spine disability, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, an epigastric hernia, erectile dysfunction (claimed as sexual dysfunction), an acquired psychiatric disability, and a lumbar spine disability due to new and relevant evidence having been received.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional medical opinions regarding his cervical spine degenerative arthritis, as the initial opinion did not address whether it was related to his service-connected lumbar spine disorder.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for several service-connected conditions, including bilateral dry eye disability, migraine headache disability, left shoulder osteoarthritis, left lower extremity radiculopathy, left hip strain, and left hip disability. The Board dismissed the appeal due to the withdrawal of these claims.

The Veteran is granted an initial 70 percent rating for major depressive disorder, effective June 6, 2018.,The Veteran is also granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities, effective June 6, 2018.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for an increased rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy and service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to processing errors.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and left sciatic nerve impingement have been dismissed as he withdrew his claims before the Board.

The Veteran's low back condition is granted service connection, and he is awarded a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD. His diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction and hypertension is granted service connection but denied an increased rating. The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity diabetic neuropathy of the sciatic nerve and femoral nerve are each granted service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions cause him to need the regular aid and attendance of another person to remain clean and presentable, and to protect him from the hazards and dangers incident to his daily environment. The Board has granted SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance.