Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's lumbar spondylosis with arthritis is rated at 20 percent from April 30, 2012 and remanded for further examination.,Right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) associated with lumbar spondylosis with arthritis is rated at 10 percent from April 30, 2012 to December 19, 2019 and remanded for further examination.,Right lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve) associated with lumbar spondylosis with arthritis is rated at 20 percent from December 20, 2019 and remanded for further examination.,Left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) associated with lumbar spondylosis with arthritis is rated at 10 percent from April 30, 2012 to December 19, 2019 and remanded for further examination.,Left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve) associated with lumbar spondylosis with arthritis is rated at 20 percent from December 20, 2019 and remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy with involvement of the sciatic nerve have been granted a rating of 60 percent, effective from April 18, 2019.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and unclear etiology. The Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, as well as his peripheral neuropathy, are presumed to be related to Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of higher staged ratings for degenerative arthritis of the spine, right-sided sciatica, and left-sided sciatica due to a lack of adequate reasons and bases in the previous decision. The Board found that a VA examination is necessary before these matters can be adjudicated on the merits.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left lower extremity radiculopathy and intervertebral disc syndrome with spondylosis of L5 and spondylolisthesis due to inadequate examinations. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to address his current disability levels.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the spine and radiculopathy, is service-connected. However, his eye disability, believed to be related to chemical/smoke exposure during service in Vietnam, has not been established as service-connected.

The Veteran's varicose veins of the right and left lower extremities, as well as her LUE radiculopathy, have been granted initial ratings. Service connection for nerve impairment of the bilateral feet has been remanded.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with IVDS, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain with osteoarthritis have been rated. The 10% rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with IVDS has been restored from January 13, 2020.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and its associated neuropathies, and initial ratings higher than 60 percent for peripheral artery disease of both lower extremities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are now pending before the Board.

For the period from May 11, 2009 to October 12, 2012, the Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis was rated at 40 percent and right lower extremity radiculopathy at 10 percent.,Effective July 16, 2012, a separate 20 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy was granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient data regarding whether the Veteran's current left hand and wrist neurological condition is related to his active duty training period in March 2011. The issue now requires a determination of whether the Veteran incurred or aggravated a left wrist and hand condition during that period, and if so, whether it is linked to his current disability.

The Veteran's lumbar spine fusion, DDD and DJD is rated at 40 percent effective July 17, 2013.,Radiculopathy of the left lower extremity (LLE) prior to March 2, 2020, is rated at 20 percent effective July 17, 2013.,The Veteran's scar of the lumbar spine is not compensable.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, as well as degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, were granted with effective dates set at October 25, 2017. However, these decisions are being remanded due to additional evidence not having been considered.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and unspecified cerebral ischemia are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities was denied as his conditions do not render him helpless enough to require such assistance.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, and bowel incontinence have been granted ratings of 40 percent each since June 22, 2009.

The Veteran's case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records from Tripler Army Medical Center and considering whether TDIU may be predicated on a single service-connected disability for the purposes of establishing SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s).

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and his alcohol dependence is not service-connected. The low back, hip, knee, and leg disabilities are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are currently rated at 20 percent each, reflecting moderate incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) is remanded due to unverified claimed stressors.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of December 2, 2011. An effective date of December 2, 2011 is granted for eligibility to Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits.