Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further evaluation due to insufficient evidence, including a lack of recent VA treatment records and an outdated VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar strain, urinary incontinence with retention associated with lumbar strain, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy associated with lumbar strain is granted effective November 29, 2005.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a lumbosacral spine disability and right knee internal derangement, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to April 19, 2018.,The Board has determined that the issue of entitlement to a disability rating greater than 40 percent for a lumbosacral spine disability is being remanded due to insufficient medical nexus opinions regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were remanded. The Board found that the Veteran should be granted a rating of 40 percent from August 30, 2010, for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and a rating of 40 percent from June 25, 2015, for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity. The Board also found that service connection should be granted for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.

The Board has granted service connection for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity as secondary to a low back disability and has reopened the claim for major depressive disorder, finding new and material evidence. The issue of whether the depression was caused or aggravated by the low back disability is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear diagnoses and lack of opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left upper extremity nerve condition, including carpal tunnel syndrome and peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy of the lower extremities was denied. A separate compensable rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy prior to September 19, 2017, and a higher rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy from July 31, 2019 onwards were granted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and sciatic nerve disorder due to additional development being needed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy. The case is remanded to address a claim of entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and coccygeal fracture residuals were denied. The rating for the lumbar spine condition remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of TBI, lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and PTSD are denied.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for TBI and PTSD are remanded for further development including VA examinations.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of migraines associated with a TBI is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating of 20 percent, but not higher, for lumbar spine spondylosis with degenerative disc disease prior to November 10, 2015 is granted.,The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent from November 10, 2015 is denied.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities are also part of this appeal.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was denied as his disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy was denied as his disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy was denied as his disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with DDD was rated at 40% effective May 10, 2017. The increased rating for sciatica of the LLE and RLE from November 3, 2014 onwards is denied.,The Veteran’s claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent prior to May 10, 2017 was denied as his forward flexion did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his DDD of the cervical spine and left upper extremity radiculopathy due to incomplete information regarding the frequency, duration, and severity of flare-ups. The VA will obtain any outstanding records and schedule the Veteran for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for new examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates have been remanded due to the need for further development.,An earlier effective date is denied for all granted conditions.

The Veteran's combined rating for service-connected disabilities was denied as the claim is not warranted under VA regulations.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disability, finding that it had its onset during service and is related to his in-service trauma.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's low back disability and his left ankle disability, as well as a need for further examination.