Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2024

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of lumbar radiculopathy as the Veteran withdrew his appeal and received a full grant of benefits in an October 2024 rating decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral cervical radiculopathy is secondary to his service-connected neck disability, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities cause intermittent inability to dress or undress herself, an inability to keep herself ordinarily clean and presentable, and an inability to feed herself through loss of coordination and weakness of the upper extremities. The Board has granted special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has denied service connection for multiple conditions including GERD, hemorrhoids, chronic headaches, a right hand disability, thoracolumbar spine issues, and radiculopathy in the lower extremities due to the Appellant's dishonorable discharge from active duty.

The Board denied service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, low back disability, RLE radiculopathy, and LLE radiculopathy as the evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and service.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected low back disability and associated radicular conditions. The claims are being returned for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the severity of these disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his lumbar spine, right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, and left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy due to issues with the rating criteria not specifically addressing the effects of medication.

The Board has denied service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the issues of service connection for cervical spine disorder, insomnia, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and tinnitus. The claims are pending further development.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbosacral spine DJD, left lower extremity radiculopathy involving the sciatic nerve, and right lower extremity radiculopathy involving the sciatic nerve was denied. A 20 percent rating is granted for the right lower extremity radiculopathy involving the sciatic nerve.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back chronic degenerative disc disease and right lower extremity radiculopathy were denied as there was no evidence of a link between the conditions and his active service.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to inadequate examinations and the need for additional medical opinions, including those related to valvular heart disease, keratoconjunctivitis, upper extremity radiculopathy, shoulder pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, a skin condition, shin splints, knee meniscal tear, muscle/tendon strain of the lower leg, and sleep disturbances.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include lumbar spine disability, bilateral knee conditions, sleep condition, and sciatica.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since July 15, 2019.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including her back disability and depression, have rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since April 1, 2015. Effective from April 1, 2015, the Veteran is granted TDIU and DEA benefits.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for bilateral lower extremity femoral radiculopathy is granted, with the effective date set at November 30, 2015.,A rating of 20 percent for right ankle disability is granted as of August 1, 2019.

The Board denied service connection for sleep disorder with insomnia, anxiety disorder, and secondary service connection for sleep apnea and sciatica as they were not related to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's current diagnoses of sleep apnea and sciatica are assumed based on the evidence but do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted with an effective date of October 13, 2020. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since February 7, 2020.

The Board has granted effective dates of December 17, 2020 for service connection and increased ratings in various cases. The claims were reopened on new evidence received after the final decisions.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD is remanded due to inadequate examination.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for lower back disability is remanded due to the inconsistency between the September 2022 and June 2014 VA examinations regarding IVDS status.,The Veteran's claims for ratings in excess of 10 percent for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are both remanded as no peripheral nerves examination has been conducted yet.,The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to March 14, 2017 on an extraschedular basis is remanded due to the lack of evidence showing her inability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment before that date.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability and associated left upper extremity radiculopathy are granted a uniform 30 percent rating, but no higher. The TDIU claim is also granted.