Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions regarding his back condition and acquired psychiatric condition. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional medical records, schedule examinations if necessary, and provide an adequate opinion on the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluation of her back disability, as well as her bilateral upper and lower extremity radiculopathy. The claims are being returned to the RO for additional development.

The Veteran's initial rating for back disability is denied, and a higher rating is not warranted. The Veteran's LLE radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, is granted an initial rating of 80 percent. A higher rating for LLE radiculopathy, femoral nerve, is denied.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not contribute to his death and that the cause of death was not related to his military service.

The Board has denied service connection for migraine headaches and neuropathy of the left sciatic nerve as secondary to a lower back disability. The Veteran's claims for left foot and right foot disabilities, as well as his lower back disability, are remanded for further examination and opinion.,Service connection cannot be established for migraine headaches or neuropathy of the left sciatic nerve due to lack of evidence of current diagnoses.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions render him in need of regular aid and assistance, which is granted for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance/housebound.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities involving the sciatic nerve is rated at 40 percent each, with no evidence of severe incomplete paralysis or marked muscle atrophy. The Board denied an increased rating as there was not enough evidence to support a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims of higher initial disability ratings for PTSD and radiculopathy in the left lower extremity are being remanded due to new evidence received since the October 2018 SOC.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination reports regarding the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on his daily functioning. The Veteran needs an addendum opinion from a physician to determine if he is substantially confined or requires regular aid and attendance.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral shoulder disabilities, internal bleeding, and radiculopathy of the right side. The cervical spine disability was not granted due to lack of evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in the VA examiner's opinions regarding the Veteran's cervical spine disability and its relationship to service. The claims file should be returned for further development, including obtaining an adequate etiological opinion that considers the Veteran's lay statements about symptoms prior to his 1987 post-service work-related injury.

The Board has granted service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, which was first manifested during active duty and is related to a service-connected low back disability.

An effective date of January 16, 2015, and no earlier, for the grant of a 20 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy affecting the sciatic nerve is granted.,An effective date of March 20, 2015, and no earlier, for the award of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy affecting the femoral, obturator, cutaneous, and illio-ingunal nerves is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various conditions, including back disability, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, bilateral plantar fasciitis and flatfeet, and allergic rhinitis were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's cervical radiculopathy of the right and left upper extremities is granted, with separate evaluations for each.,Both knee disorders remain at a 10 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at a 40 percent rating beginning May 28, 2015. The Veteran also receives a 40 percent rating for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy since that date. Compensation for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities beginning January 9, 2017 is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and further development is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and right shoulder disability due to additional development of records and clarification of functional loss during flare-ups or after repeated use over time.

The Veteran's spine disability and radiculopathy were granted a rating of 20 percent, but no higher, for the entire appeal period.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including evaluations and service connection determinations. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also being remanded to consider additional factors.