Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD due to military sexual trauma is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of the decision.,Service connection for low back disability (lumbar degenerative joint disease) is granted as secondary to service-connected degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine.

The Veteran's right upper extremity radiculopathy associated with his neck condition is now rated at 70 percent, effective June 26, 2019.

The Veteran's service-connected low back condition and bilateral sciatic nerve radiculopathy have been granted separate evaluations of 20 percent each, effective from the date of the decision. The initial rating for chronic mechanical low back syndrome remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's radiculopathy in each lower extremity was found to not meet the criteria for an increased schedular evaluation beyond a 10 percent rating prior to November 6, 2015; between November 6, 2015 and August 5, 2016; from August 5, 2016 to November 21, 2019; and since November 21, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of substantial compliance with prior remand instructions and issues related to pre-existing conditions. The case is being returned for further development, including obtaining service treatment records and personnel records.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left knee patellofemoral syndrome was denied. The Board found the evidence did not support a finding that her condition manifested with limitation of flexion of 30 degrees or less at any time during the appeal period, warranting the higher 20 percent evaluation under DC 5260. Service connection for bilateral lower extremity neurological disorder (including sciatica) was remanded due to insufficient medical evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as there is no evidence of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology for the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a lumbar laminectomy are rated at 20 percent, effective May 10, 2010. The claim for an increased rating is denied.,Prior to November 12, 2019, the Veteran's sciatic radiculopathy of the lower left extremity was rated at 20 percent; after that date, it has been rated at 40 percent.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding service connection for lumbar spine disorder, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and cervical spine disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues related to headaches, lumbar spine disorder, TMJ, right lower extremity radiculopathy, right great toe metatarsophalangeal joint arthritis, left foot bursitis, and TBI. The appeal was dismissed.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for the period from January 1, 2013, to June 6, 2016, was granted. The TDIU claim for periods prior to January 1, 2013, was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, but denied service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU is also granted.

The Veteran's bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy is granted as service connected. The Board found the evidence supported a finding of direct service connection based on symptoms observed during service and confirmed by subsequent medical examination.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for left lower extremity with musculocutaneous nerve radiculopathy is denied.,The Veteran's increased rating in excess of 20 percent for left leg DVT, from February 19, 2018 to the present, is denied.

The Board has expanded the Veteran's claim to include sacroiliac strain, spondylolisthesis of the fifth lumbar vertebra, osteoarthritis, and degenerative changes with radiculopathy. The case is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development.,No specific rating assigned as the appeal is on issues not related to service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip disability, left hip disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions began during or are otherwise related to service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for entitlement to higher ratings and earlier effective dates for back disability, neck disability, and headache disability.,The appeal of radiculopathy, left upper extremity, is granted with an effective date of June 4, 2014.