Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2024

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at a 10 percent prior to April 24, 2023 and at a 40 percent thereafter. The left hip condition remains unresolved.,Service connection for the left hip condition is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's service connection claim for Parkinson's disease is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of Parkinson's disease and exposure to herbicides during service, which allows for presumptive service connection. Service connection for sciatic nerve disability is remanded due to lack of VA examination.

The Veteran's service connection for migraine headaches, low back disability, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy has been granted. The Veteran is now rated at 40 percent for his low back disability since July 1, 2012.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including a spine disorder, hypertension, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and vertigo, as they were not shown to be related to service or any service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left shoulder impingement syndrome with osteoarthritis, lumbosacral strain with mild degenerative disc disease, femoral radiculopathy of both lower extremities, and sciatic radiculopathy. The remand requests additional examinations to address functional impairment due to flare-ups and repetitive use.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU related to lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities are being remanded due to receipt of additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and for a temporary total disability evaluation due to surgery for her back disability. The case will be returned to the Board after further development.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted as secondary to the service-connected right hip disability. The case of a compensable rating for the right hip disability, and service connection for LLE radiculopathy and left foot plantar fasciitis are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease, left and right lower leg radiculopathy, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and major depressive disorder), and headaches. Service connection was denied for prostate disorder.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for various conditions have been granted, including cervical spine IVDS, GERD with Barrett's esophagus, left and right upper extremity radiculopathy, bilateral eye disabilities (prior to July 18, 2016), and a separate rating for bilateral dry eye syndrome. The Veteran also received SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, right shoulder, and anxiety conditions are granted as new and material evidence has been submitted. The cases of lower extremity radiculopathy and tailbone injury are also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right foot plantar fasciitis and central disc protrusion, prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment for the period from November 1, 2020 to April 25, 2021. The Board granted a TDIU during this period. However, the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for right foot plantar fasciitis is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for radiculopathy, right lower extremity as it is not related to the Veteran's military service or his service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's initial ratings for lower back disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy are denied as his conditions do not warrant higher ratings based on the criteria provided in the rating schedule.

The Veteran's claims for sciatic nerve paralysis of the right and left lower extremities have been granted.,An earlier effective date of November 21, 2017, has been granted for a 20 percent evaluation for service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The appeals seeking increased ratings for the lumbar spine, skin disease, bilateral upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, and bilateral lower extremity sciatic radulopathy are dismissed.,The appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for OSA is granted. Service connection for OSA is now established.,The appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for sinusitis is granted. Service connection for sinusitis is now established.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and left lumbar radiculopathy have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of those claims.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine is rated at 20 percent effective May 17, 2018. Separate ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are denied.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 40 percent, effective September 11, 2020. The left lower extremity radiculopathy remains at a 20 percent rating.,Issues related to traumatic brain injury, neck condition, and shoulder condition are remanded for further review.