Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2024

The Veteran's cervical strain with right upper extremity radiculopathy, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and left wrist sprain are all granted. The Veteran is currently receiving the maximum disability rating for his left wrist sprain.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on lumbosacral strain, RLE radiculopathy, and LLE radiculopathy were dismissed. The Board also found that the reduction of the rating for lumbosacral strain was improper and granted restoration to a 10% rating effective April 17, 2023. Other appeals for earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA were remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for sleep apnea, a low back condition, and radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities were dismissed due to improper use of an appeal form in the AMA system.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to procedural issues and lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his lumbar spine disorder, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left and right ankle disorders, and erectile dysfunction. The Veteran will be afforded new VA examinations to determine these issues.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity has been granted a 40 percent disability rating, while his lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy have had their initial ratings denied. The Veteran also received a TDIU determination.

The Veteran's initial and increased ratings for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities have been denied. The Board found that a 20 percent rating is warranted from July 9, 2014, for the left lower extremity.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back injury and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that new evidence supports the claim and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve) was reduced from 20% to 0%, effective November 1, 2019. The reduction is denied.,The Veteran's rating for lumbar spine fusion L4-S1 with left lower extremity intervertebral disc syndrome was reduced from 40% to 20%, effective November 1, 2019. The reduction is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for low back degenerative disc disease, left lower extremity radiculopathy, left hip strain, and left knee degenerative arthritis with left knee strain, all secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted an increased rating of 20 percent, but no higher. A separate 20 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy is also granted. The maximum schedular evaluation (50%) for sinusitis is denied. Ratings in excess of 20 percent for left and right hand tremors are denied. A rating in excess of 10 percent for functional abdominal pain syndrome is denied. An initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy is being remanded due to the lack of evidence supporting a higher rating. The current rating of 20 percent reflects moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Veteran is entitled to a total disability rating for compensation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to August 1, 2019 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service connection claims for lumbar spine, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, urinary incontinence, left knee disability, right knee disability, and erectile dysfunction are granted. The Veteran is also remanded to obtain relevant medical records prior to the AOJ decision on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow gainful employment since April 20, 2022, and the Board finds that he is entitled to a TDIU from this date.

Service connection is granted for degenerative joint disease and spondylosis of the cervical and cervicothoracic regions, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, right sciatic radicular pain and paresthesia of right leg, left radial and ulnar radicular pain and paresthesia, right radial and ulnar radicular pain and paresthesia, posttraumatic residuals right 2nd finger, and headaches (claimed as cervicothoracic spine pain).,Service connection is denied for irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory insufficiency with dyspnea, chronic maculopapular dermatitis, and heart disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for testicular hypofunction, sciatica, and right knee degenerative joint disease. Service connection was denied for fatigue, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left shoulder disability, left wrist disability, and right wrist disability.

The Veteran withdrew their appeals for higher ratings for service-connected residuals of the right hip and thigh, as well as for a lower back disorder and sciatic nerve disorders in both legs. The appeal is dismissed.