Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his low back disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU are being remanded due to deficiencies in the prior VA examination. A new examination is required to assess the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to his service-connected right lumbar muscle strain was reopened and granted. His left patella fracture is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Veteran contends that this rating should be increased due to worsening symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right leg sciatic neuropathy is caused by or aggravated by his service-connected fractured metatarsal heads.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete VA examination and requires additional information regarding the Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity as secondary to his service-connected chronic lumbar strain.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran has a diagnosis of sciatica, and thus requires a VA opinion to resolve this discrepancy.

The Board has denied earlier effective dates for the service connection of lumbar degenerative disc disease, left lower leg radiculopathy, and right lower leg radiculopathy. The increased rating appeals are REMANDED due to a need for new examinations and consideration of TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disorder, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, sleep disturbance, and memory loss. The issues have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection was not granted as there is no direct evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of February 4, 2010, and the effective date for his TDIU is set at that time.

The Veteran's claims for excessive weight gain, left hand tremor, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction have been dismissed. The right foot disorder claim was denied. Service connection for rhinophyma rosacea has been granted with a 60% rating prior to December 15, 2015, and a 10% rating thereafter.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective June 25, 2019.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from April 1, 2011 to November 18, 2015 due to service-connected disabilities. The rating period prior to September 25, 2010 did not meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine disability, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, and allergic rhinitis due to lack of evidence showing a direct link between these conditions and the Veteran's active military service.,Service connection was not granted as the preponderance of the evidence did not support that the Veteran’s current disabilities were caused or aggravated by his time in service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome with lumbar spondylosis and bilateral lower extremity sciatica due to an inadequate medical opinion. The VA is required to schedule the Veteran for a new examination to address whether his conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent effective January 8, 2020. The Board has remanded the issues of rating his right and left lower extremity radiculopathy as well as his TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection, rating increases, and effective date determination due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The issues include left lower extremity radiculopathy, low back condition, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and an earlier effective date.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date prior to July 19, 2018 for service connection of flaccid muscle paralysis and radiculopathy right lower extremity (previously claimed as anterior and posterior tibialis muscle paralysis) and left lower extremity (previously claimed as talipes cavus left foot paralysis).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his lumbar spine and psychiatric conditions, are not sufficient to render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's cervical radiculopathy of the left and right upper extremities are currently rated at 40 percent and 30 percent, respectively. The Veteran is seeking higher ratings for these conditions.,The Veteran’s headaches have been evaluated as migraine variants with over-the-counter Aleve use. She has reported worsening frequency of attacks.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are found to meet the percentage requirements for a schedular TDIU and preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The Board has remanded several issues including higher ratings for his lumbar spine strain, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, and entitlement to special monthly compensation based on the loss of use of the lower extremities or the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's appeal for a disability rating of 60 percent for left knee status post total knee replacement is granted effective January 5, 2016.,The appeals on service connection for cervical spine condition and increased rating for nerve damage, lateral surface of the distal left lower leg, saphenous nerve are dismissed.