Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular rating requirements for TDIU since November 14, 2022. The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether he was unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus is service connected. The issues of service connection for GERD, a lumbar disorder, and left lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded due to procedural errors.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations of his arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome (low back pain), radiculopathy in the right lower extremity, and radiculopathy in the left lower extremity are dismissed.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has remanded this issue for further development.

The Board denied service connection for spinal stenosis and degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy as these conditions are not related to the Veteran's military service.,The Board also denied service connection for a brain injury with memory issues (brain injury) and balance problems.

The Veteran's GERD and ventral hernia have been denied initial ratings in excess of the assigned disability levels.,Claims for effective dates prior to January 27, 2020 for service connection were denied for various peripheral neuropathy conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims to re-establish service connection for his lower back condition, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and generalized anxiety disorder with major depressive disorder and insomnia due to lack of new and relevant evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric, lumbar spine, and left lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted effective November 3, 2020. Service connection for RLE radiculopathy and right shoulder tendonitis are also granted on a secondary basis to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and various musculoskeletal conditions, render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined effect of these disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since June 25, 2015. The Board finds that an effective date of March 11, 2017 is warranted for the grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to service connection for various disorders, including left knee disorder, cervical spine disorder, left hip disorder, left ankle disorder, headache disorder, hearing loss, tinnitus, and upper extremity radiculopathy. The Board has determined that these claims are remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and cervical spine disability were denied increased ratings, while his right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy were granted service connection.,Effective dates for bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy are being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for an award of SMC at the housebound rate.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment, and a TDIU rating is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected lumbar spine and lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The issues include degenerative disc disease with lumbar strain, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, and TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy (sciatic nerve), and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were granted effective September 6, 2019. The claim for PTSD was also granted with an effective date of September 6, 2019.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back condition and sciatica of both lower extremities, finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's low back, right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities were evaluated at the current ratings of 20 percent. The Board found that these conditions did not warrant higher ratings based on limitation of motion or other factors.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy was restored to a 20 percent rating effective April 1, 2020.,A 40 percent rating for the Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy was granted effective May 30, 2017.