Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2024

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted a 20 percent rating, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's right and left femoral neuropathies, as well as bilateral pes planus, have been granted increased ratings. The Veteran's right and left sciatic and external popliteal neuropathies have also been granted increased ratings. However, the Veteran's left knee limitation of flexion has not met the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability as of December 16, 2019, and separate 10 percent ratings for right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy associated with the back disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left lower extremity radiculopathy and lumbar disorders due to incomplete compliance with prior directives. Additional development is needed, including obtaining private treatment records and VA examinations.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a right knee disability and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for herniated disc at L4-L5, as well as related radiculopathy claims, to obtain additional evidence.

The Board has reinstated the 20% rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy as the reduction was improper due to a failure to follow procedural requirements.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spondylosis with myelopathy and radiculopathy, finding that it is related to his military service. The TDIU claim is remanded due to procedural issues.

Prior to January 27, 2022, the Veteran's RLE sciatic nerve radiculopathy was rated at 10 percent.,Effective January 27, 2022, the Veteran's RLE sciatic nerve radiculopathy is now rated at 40 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete examinations and insufficient medical opinions. The claims will be reconsidered with additional evaluations.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for right lower extremity and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been dismissed due to a procedural error.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 50 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.,The Veteran's plantar fasciitis including bilateral pes planus with hallux valgus and residuals of left great toe fracture is rated at 30 percent, which is appropriate given her symptoms do not meet the criteria for more severe ratings.,The Veteran's bilateral TMD joint dysfunction with nocturnal bruxism is rated at 10 percent, which is appropriate based on her interincisal range and dietary restrictions.,The Veteran's cervical strain with degenerative arthritis including disc space narrowing is rated at 10 percent, which is appropriate given the limitations in motion and functional impairment.,The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy, femoral nerve is rated at 30 percent, which is appropriate based on her symptoms and findings.,The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy, femoral nerve is rated at 40 percent, which is appropriate given the severity of her symptoms and functional impairment.,The Veteran's thoracolumbar strain including degenerative arthritis is rated at 20 percent, which is appropriate based on her findings and limitations.,The Veteran's uterine fibroid is not compensable as it does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee disability, lumbosacral spine degenerative joint and disc disease, and right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the lumbosacral spine condition. The conditions are deemed related to in-service injuries during combat operations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition, finding that there is no causal connection between his in-service event and his current disability.

The Board granted disability ratings of 70 percent, 30 percent, and 20 percent for unspecified anxiety disorder with unspecified depressive disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity (sciatic nerve) respectively, effective November 25, 2020. The ratings for other conditions were denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of all VA treatment records being present in the claims file for review, which constitutes a pre-decisional duty to assist error. A new VA examination is needed to consider these additional records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, finding that there is no persuasive evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and right upper extremity radiculopathy have been granted service connection. However, the left ear hearing loss rating remains at 0 percent.,The Board has remanded the issue of an increased rating for left ear hearing loss.

The Board has remanded several claims related to the Veteran's low back disability, sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and femoral nerve radiculopathy. The issues include seeking higher ratings for these disabilities as well as earlier effective dates for separate compensable ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected knee and back disabilities render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU based on this finding.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to errors in fulfilling the duty to assist, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing adequate medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current neck, right upper extremity, left ankle, and left foot disabilities.