Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with effective dates of January 27, 2017. The conditions are related to her service-connected psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for higher disability ratings for lower back and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating higher than 20 percent for both conditions.

The Veteran's sciatic nerve impairments of both lower extremities are rated at 20 percent each, effective January 8, 2013.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate examinations and the need for additional development of medical evidence regarding the severity and impact of the Veteran's back, right ankle, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to inadequacies in prior examinations and the need for additional medical evidence.

The Veteran's back condition and PTSD have been granted service connection, with the back condition receiving a grant of service connection and the PTSD being rated at 70 percent effective March 9, 2018.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, left and right sciatic radiculopathy, each as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain, right lower extremity femoral radiculopathy, and right and left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy are all rated at 20 percent since January 6, 2018. A TDIU is granted from that date.

The Veteran's right hip condition has been evaluated at a maximum of 10 percent, based on limitation of flexion. The evidence does not show flexion limited to 30 degrees.,The Veteran's right lower radiculopathy was rated at 20 percent under DCs 8520 and 8526, with no higher rating possible due to the severity of his symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for residuals of a total left knee replacement was denied because the evidence did not support finding that the additional disabilities were caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or error in judgment.

The Veteran's urination problems are not secondary to his thoracolumbar spine disability. The Board denied higher ratings for the thoracolumbar spine and right knee disabilities, as well as a separate rating for right knee instability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions. The claims are not granted as there is no evidence that the conditions are related to active service.

Service connection is granted for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability. The claims for left hand numbness, ovarian cysts, and fibroids are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his lumbar spine disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as his claim for TDIU prior to June 11, 2015. The Veteran is required to attend additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require regular aid and attendance, warranting special monthly compensation at the aid and attendance rate.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for right and left upper extremity radiculopathy have been denied. The effective dates of service connection were assigned based on the date of receipt of the claim, March 18, 2019.

The Board has granted a 40 percent evaluation for the Veteran's sciatic nerve radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, but no higher. The criteria for this rating are met based on moderately severe incomplete paralysis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities have been granted, but the appeal is dismissed as moot because the full benefits sought on appeal have already been awarded.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings on his left shoulder disabilities has been dismissed as he was granted service connection for a right shoulder disability in February 2021.,His claim for an increased rating of the left shoulder muscle damage (shrapnel wound) is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been granted.,The appeals for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity have all been withdrawn.