Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2024

The Board has dismissed the claims for a bilateral vision disability, diabetes, and obstructive sleep apnea as they were withdrawn by the Claimant with assistance from his attorney.

The Board has granted an effective date of December 23, 2013 for the grants of service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity and left lower extremity.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain additional examinations and opinions regarding his right and left knee disabilities, as well as his sleep apnea. The effective date for the increased rating of 20% for sciatic nerve radiculopathy will be determined based on the evidence provided.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been rated at the maximum disability rating of 40 percent, effective from February 4, 2019. The appeal is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to inadequate medical opinions, lack of in-person examinations, and other procedural issues.

The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy was granted a 20% evaluation prior to August 4, 2020. The Board found the disability primarily manifested by sensory disturbance and pain with some impairment of motor functions and loss of reflexes.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including left hand and wrist condition, diverticulosis, bilateral hearing loss, lower back condition, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and right hip condition. The remand requests additional medical opinions on these issues.

The Board has remanded several claims for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records from the Trinka Davis Veteran's Village Clinic.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted a 20% rating effective October 14, 2020. The claim for increased ratings prior to this date remains denied.

The Veteran's appeals for initial ratings on GERD and a right shoulder disability, as well as the denials of service connection for alopecia, bronchitis, left elbow disability, right elbow disability, lentigo, sinusitis, bilateral hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) have been dismissed due to his withdrawal during a hearing before the undersigned. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) has been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine arthritis and stenosis, left hip arthritis, bilateral knee arthritis, arthritis and radiculopathy of the bilateral feet, and arthritis and neuropathy of the bilateral hands.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for his acquired psychiatric disability, but the Board finds that he did not submit a timely claim prior to January 30, 2013.,The Veteran sought an earlier effective date for his right lower extremity radiculopathy, and the Board granted this request.

The Board has remanded several claims related to the Veteran's lumbar spine strain, left lower extremity radiculopathy, bilateral hearing loss, and coronary artery disease. The VA is instructed to obtain any outstanding records that could help in resolving these claims.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of increased ratings for spinal stenosis and intervertebral disc syndrome, as well as left lower extremity radiculopathy. The VA will obtain any outstanding records and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to assess the severity and manifestations of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the level of impairment.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for various spinal and nerve conditions has been granted, with specific ratings assigned. The claims are subject to the laws and regulations governing the award of monetary benefits.,A new rating decision grants a 20 percent initial rating for chronic lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease and disc bulges, osteoarthropathy and lumbar osteoarthritis from April 4, 2015 to November 21, 2023. The Veteran's condition is characterized by forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity neuropathy affecting the sciatic nerve is currently rated at 20 percent each, and the Board has denied entitlement to higher ratings.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, left carpal tunnel syndrome, temporomandibular joint disorder, allergic rhinitis, and left testis mass have been granted initial evaluations. The lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent from December 20, 2023, with a 10 percent evaluation for right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve effective since December 20, 2023. The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is rated at 10 percent from December 20, 2023, with a non-compensable evaluation for left testis mass.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disabilities are now rated at 40 percent from October 25, 2017.,The Veteran's service-connected radiculopathy affecting the right sciatic nerve is now rated at 40 percent from October 25, 2017.,The Veteran's service-connected radiculopathy affecting the left sciatic nerve is now rated at 40 percent from October 25, 2017.,The Veteran's service-connected radiculopathy affecting the right anterior crural (femoral) nerve is now rated at 30 percent from April 25, 2023.,The Veteran's service-connected radiculopathy affecting the left anterior crural (femoral) nerve is now rated at 30 percent from April 25, 2023.

The Veteran's PTSD, lumbar spine disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, cervical spine disability, and left knee disability are all granted. The effective dates for these grants are the date of claim (April 9, 2014 for PTSD, May 20, 2015 for other disabilities).