Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for residuals status post nasal reconstruction was denied, while his TDIU claim was granted.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy was dismissed. The Veteran's claims for service connection for neurogenic bladder and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) were both granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability is granted with an effective date of July 19, 2018. The appeal was based on the Veteran's left arm numbness, tingling, and pain which was found to be related to his cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy are granted as service-connected, with the latter condition found to be secondary to the former.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, radiculopathy affecting the left lower extremity, and radiculopathy affecting the right lower extremity. The Veteran's claims for traumatic brain injury were also denied.,There is no evidence of record supporting the Veteran's claims for these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for service connection of various conditions, including neck disability, back disability, and radiculopathies. The claims were initially denied in February 2013 due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to December 13, 2017 are denied.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for her scar is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including posttraumatic stress disorder and various peripheral neuropathies, have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance. The Board has granted an effective date of September 20, 2019, for the award of SMC based on A&A.

Effective dates of September 2, 2020 and January 23, 2020 have been granted for the awards of service connection for painful low back scars and lower extremity radiculopathies.,A temporary total rating has been granted from January 1, 2021 to March 31, 2021 for a back disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed prior to adjudicating the claim for service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment since February 2, 2019. Effective that date, he is granted TDIU and DEA benefits.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Parkinson's disease and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, have resulted in a severe degree of functional impairment such that he meets the criteria for loss of use of his feet. As a result, he is eligible for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or adaptive equipment.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU is dismissed as there was no justiciable case or controversy. The claim of service connection for gastritis is remanded due to a failure to satisfy the duty to assist.

The Veteran's claim for right knee total replacement, migraine headaches, internal derangement of the right ankle, major depressive disorder, degenerative arthritis with IVDS and strain in the lumbar spine, sciatic radiculopathy in both lower extremities, left knee meniscectomy residuals, and left knee instability was denied. The effective date for the grant of service connection is set at June 14, 2014.

The Veteran was granted an earlier effective date of October 29, 2018 for his right knee strain.,An earlier effective date of June 16, 2016 was granted for the Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran is granted service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic and femoral, effective September 8, 2014.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for right upper extremity radiculopathy and for an effective date prior to November 9, 2017, has been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal.

The Board has determined that there are duty to assist errors in the rating decisions on appeal for hearing loss, tinnitus, neck disability, back disability, and sleep disability. The issues of service connection for these conditions will be remanded for further development.

The Board dismissed the appeals for earlier effective dates as they were untimely filed more than one year after the July 2021 rating decision.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal because the February 2022 VA Form 10182 was not in response to a rating decision that addressed his increased rating claim for service-connected radiculopathy, left lower extremity.