Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's sciatica of the left lower extremity is rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating due to moderate symptoms.,The Veteran's left knee scar is currently rated as noncompensable (0 percent), and the Board finds no basis for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent since July 24, 2020. The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding the period prior to this date.,The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 20 percent. The case was also remanded for a retroactive opinion on flare-ups during earlier examinations.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was previously rated at 10 percent, and the Board has now remanded this issue as well.,The Veteran’s TDIU claim is being referred to VA’s Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is rated at 40% since December 27, 2017. His peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity remains rated at 20%. The rating for radiculopathy has been granted, but the rating for peripheral neuropathy has not.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings of right and left knee disabilities, low back disability, and sciatica in both lower extremities due to failure of the August 2020 examiner to distinguish symptoms and impacts on functioning from each other and from other service-connected and non-service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's depression is granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities.,There is no evidence of hypertension during or after service, and the claim for hypertension is denied.,Peyronie's disease is denied as there is insufficient evidence linking it to active service.,Right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy and left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy are both granted with a 40% evaluation, effective October 18, 2018.,The claims for entitlement to earlier effective dates for the evaluations of right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathies are dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of pilonidal cyst and denied service connection for lumbar degenerative disease with radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the claims for left leg sciatica, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, service connection for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and service connection for right leg sciatica due to unclear findings from a previous VA examination. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other claims.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his low back disability and radiculopathies of the lower extremities was denied. The TDIU claim prior to January 14, 2014, was also denied.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity was granted an initial 40 percent rating, effective July 2, 2015. His erectile dysfunction claim was denied as there was no evidence of penile deformity. The Board found that his radiculopathy did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran was granted higher initial ratings of 20% and 30% for left upper extremity radiculopathy and right upper extremity radiculopathy, respectively.,A TDIU was also granted.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and earlier effective dates have been denied.,Effective dates prior to July 29, 2017 for the grant of service connection for left femoral radiculopathy and entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for left sciatic radiculopathy were not granted.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and its associated right lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his low back disorder and associated radiculopathies has been denied. The rating for the low back disorder prior to February 2, 2012 is denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA guidelines. From February 2, 2012 onwards, a 20 percent rating was granted for the left lower extremity radiculopathy and a denial of any higher rating for the right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded to verify his last date of gainful employment and determine if an extraschedular TDIU was warranted for the period from that date to June 23, 2008.,From July 1, 2009 to September 30, 2011, a TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's back disability was granted a 20 percent rating prior to January 8, 2020. Ratings in excess of 10 percent were denied for both lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and pseudofolliculitis barbae have been reopened, and the claim for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae has been granted. The ratings for voiding dysfunction and painful scar status post lumbar fusion have been restored, as well as the ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also granted.

The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The effective date for a 20% rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy is set at July 21, 2016. Effective August 30, 2017, the Veteran received increased ratings of 40% for residuals of TBI and 70% for unspecified anxiety disorder.

The Board has dismissed all the claims as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, bilateral shoulder, hip, knee and hand/finger disabilities as they were not shown to be related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's TDIU claim before March 10, 2015 due to incomplete VA treatment records and conflicting employment dates provided by the Veteran. The case is being returned for additional development.