Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2024

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left leg numbness and right leg numbness associated with the sciatic nerve. The Court found that there was not substantial compliance with previous remand orders, specifically regarding obtaining private treatment records from providers through the Community Care program. As a result, the case is being remanded to comply with these orders.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities, finding that there was no persuasive evidence showing he needed regular aid and assistance from another person or was housebound as a result of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for entitlement to service connection for SOB, headaches disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and left ankle and left knee disorders due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for neck condition, back condition, and bilateral upper extremity cervical radiculopathy due to incomplete records. The Veteran's testimony indicates he began treatment in 2005, but VA treatment records are missing.

The Board has remanded multiple claims due to the need for additional medical examinations and records, including those related to service connection and disability ratings.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were dismissed. The Board granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and anal fistulotomy, both rated at 100%.

The Veteran's petition to reopen service connection for a tailbone fracture was denied. The claims for increased ratings of low back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and hemorrhoids were also denied. TDIU was denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, finding no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for service-connected disabilities is granted, and his increased rating claim for the lumbar spine disability prior to May 4, 2021, is remanded.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities, but denied both on the merits due to lack of evidence linking current disabilities to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic and femoral nerves were denied. The case was remanded for further development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back DDD and granted it. The claims for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy has been granted increased ratings of 20 percent each, effective March 30, 2017.,Effective March 30, 2017, the Veteran is also granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for service-connected traumatic brain injury, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for a make-up VA peripheral neuropathy examination. The TBI claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the radiculopathies.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity affecting the sciatic nerve is granted a 40 percent disability rating from December 1, 2020, to April 20, 2021. A higher rating is denied for this condition after that date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, left foot achilles tendonitis, left foot plantar fasciitis, and right foot metatarsalgia due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their onset during service or relationship to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's right wrist disability, specifically radial nerve peripheral neuropathy and cervical radiculopathy. The VA is required to obtain an addendum opinion from a neurologist to clarify these conditions.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's low back disability, including a higher rating and initial ratings for radiculopathy of the lower extremities and a neurogenic bladder disability. The Veteran is also seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of a separate compensable rating for his neurogenic bladder disability.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is rated at 40 percent effective August 1, 2022.,Ratings for right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy were denied prior to August 1, 2022. Ratings of 20 percent are granted beginning on August 1, 2022.,Ratings for right and left lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy were denied prior to August 1, 2022. Ratings of 20 percent are granted beginning on August 1, 2022.