Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's headaches are rated as 10 percent disabling from November 1, 2012, and as 50 percent disabling starting from September 21, 2016. The claims for higher ratings for his lumbar spine and sciatic nerve radiculopathies are remanded.

The Veteran was found to be unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, particularly PTSD, which prevented him from performing the physical demands of his job as a corrections officer. The TDIU is granted for the period from November 8, 2011 to May 1, 2012.

The Board has remanded the cases of cervical spine disability and upper extremity radiculopathy due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran's claims are being reviewed again with a focus on his in-service neck injury and treatment for torticollis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease with radiculopathy and glaucoma due to lack of sufficient evidence in the record.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent from August 21, 2009 to August 10, 2017 and remains denied for a higher rating. The Veteran's degenerative arthritis with degenerative joint disease with mechanical low back pain and IVDS is rated at 40 percent on and after August 11, 2017. The Veteran's sciatic nerve involvement of the left lower extremity is rated at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to ensure compliance with prior remand directives and to obtain relevant medical records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and other issues are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet schedular requirements for a higher rating, except for his painful midback scar which was granted a 10% rating.

The Board has found that the VA examinations and opinions provided are inadequate, particularly regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's lumbosacral spine, left knee, right knee, and eye disabilities. The claims for these conditions are therefore remanded to allow for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU benefits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and effective dates have been granted. Service connection was established for radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, right lower extremity on January 29, 2013, with an effective date of that day.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, as he is capable of performing daily living tasks without assistance.

The Veteran's PTSD, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted service connection and increased ratings to 40% each.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to insufficient evidence in previous examinations, outstanding treatment records, and issues related to the onset and severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's back disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy are not rated higher than the current levels.,The Veteran’s right knee disability is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits are granted for the period from April 27, 2009 to May 31, 2010. The periods prior to April 27, 2009 and from June 1, 2010 to February 28, 2012 are remanded for extraschedular consideration.

The Board granted an effective date of May 26, 2010 for the grant of service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lower extremity radiculopathy was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected mechanical low back pain is rated at 40 percent effective February 20, 2020. The rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy has been increased to 40 percent effective the same date.,A separate 20 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy remains denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy of the right sciatic and femoral nerves are currently rated at 40 percent, 20 percent, and 20 percent respectively. The appeal is denied as there is no evidence to warrant a higher rating.