Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2024

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of January 11, 2021 for the grant of service connection for various disabilities including an acquired psychiatric disorder and multiple musculoskeletal and neurological conditions.

The appeal concerning the service-connected degenerative changes of the thoracolumbar spine is dismissed. The appeals for tension headaches, cervical spine disability, and radiculopathy of right upper extremity are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence in previous VA examinations and conflicting medical opinions. The lower back condition, sciatic radiculopathy of both legs, and their relationship to service are now subject to further review.

The Board has granted an effective date of May 2, 2005 for the award of service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic and femoral.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) is rated at 40 percent, but no higher, for both the right and left legs.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a pre-decisional error in obtaining a VA aid and attendance examination, which is necessary to determine if the Veteran requires regular aid and attendance of another individual solely on account of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with IVDS and degenerative arthritis, paralysis of the sciatic nerve in both lower extremities, and sinusitis have all been rated at their maximum allowable levels. The Board finds that none of these conditions warrant a higher rating based on current medical evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his psychiatric condition and multiple musculoskeletal issues, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted the claim for TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and a scar was granted with an effective date of November 29, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, traumatic brain injury, cervical spine disorder, headaches, and multiple musculoskeletal disorders have been denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic and femoral nerves were granted service connection effective September 9, 2020.

The Veteran's right sciatic radiculopathy is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as there are no findings of impairment of motor functions, trophic changes, muscle atrophy, or complete paralysis.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy is dismissed. The Board also remanded the issue of entitlement to a higher initial disability rating for right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for lumbar radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities have been dismissed due to untimely filing of Notice of Disagreement (NOD).

The Board has granted service connection for a low back condition, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's now service-connected low back condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as his claim for a total disability rating based on service-connected disabilities prior to June 24, 2013. The evidence did not support these claims.

The Veteran's right knee disability, status post total arthroplasty, is denied a rating in excess of 30 percent.,The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and IVDS is denied a rating in excess of 20 percent.,The Veteran's service-connected right lower extremity radiculopathy from March 6, 2019, is granted a disability rating of 20 percent.,The Veteran's service-connected left lower extremity radiculopathy has not been rated higher than 20 percent.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative arthritis is granted a 30 percent rating.,The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis is granted a 40 percent rating.

The Board has granted a revision of the April 6, 2021 decision to reflect an earlier effective date of February 5, 2012 for the grant of individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU). The Veteran's TDIU claim was inferred during the course of his appeal for service connection claims.