Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2024

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of December 11, 2020 for service connection for cervical strain, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and right ankle status post medial malleolus fracture.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his low back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and low back scar is denied. The TDIU claim is also denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back disorder, left lower extremity radiculopathy, left shoulder disorder, and right knee disorder due to a lack of current diagnoses and credible reports of in-service onset of symptoms.

The Veteran's left ankle deltoid ligament sprain has been granted a 20 percent disability evaluation, and no more. The cervical spine disorder and related issues have been remanded for further examination and determination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete VA examinations and inextricably intertwined issues. The Veteran is required to undergo a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any back disabilities, including sciatica as secondary to a back disability.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, unspecified anxiety disorder, is granted as service-connected. The claims for unspecified depressive disorder, PTSD, lumbosacral strain, sciatica (secondary to lumbosacral strain), and hiatal hernia are remanded.

The overpayment of VA compensation benefits in the amount of $7,754.81 was due to sole administrative error on the part of VA and is therefore not a valid debt.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he requested to withdraw his appeals.

The Veteran's spouse requires regular aid and attendance due to the Veteran's husband's severe hip, foot drop, muscle atrophy, and arthritis conditions. The Board granted additional compensation for this need.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy have been granted service connection.,A rating in excess of 20 percent for thoracolumbar spine DDD disability from July 4, 2019 is remanded.

The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, effective February 18, 2020.

The Veteran's lower extremity radiculopathy conditions are currently rated at 10 percent each, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression), PTSD, a back condition, high blood pressure, a hip condition, a left knee condition, skin cancer of the right arm, and sciatica are remanded due to failure to conduct VA examinations as scheduled.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection of various conditions, including degenerative arthritis of the spine, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and other disabilities. The earliest effective date assigned was October 28, 2020.

The Board remands the claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for back disability due to inadequate medical examination and failure to address flare-ups.

The Board denied the Veteran's motion to revise or reverse the June 2020 rating decision, finding no clear and unmistakable error in the assignment of disability ratings for left upper extremity radiculopathy and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, remanded certain claims, and dismissed an appeal regarding a proposed rating reduction.

The Veteran's lower left extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve condition is rated at 10 percent since September 8, 2021. The Board has granted a higher rating to 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations under the applicable rating criteria.

The Veteran's disability ratings for Degenerative Disc Disease and Lumbar Radiculopathy (left and right) were restored to 20 percent effective December 1, 2022.