Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran is granted a higher initial rating of 40 percent for lumbar degenerative disease prior to December 23, 2014. The issue of entitlement to TDIU prior to July 4, 2014 is remanded due to the need for clarification regarding the Veteran's income and employment status during that period.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for RLE radiculopathy and lumbar spine disability has been remanded due to inadequate reasons and bases in the previous decision.,The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is intertwined with the evaluation of the orthopedic symptoms of the Veteran’s low back disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hip disorder as secondary to his service-connected back disability due to lack of evidence supporting a causal link between the two conditions.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is rated at 40 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The radiculopathy claims for right lower extremity sciatic nerve and femoral nerve are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's sciatic nerve and knee disabilities were denied increased ratings. The Veteran was granted a total rating for his right knee replacement effective February 14, 2019.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to potential secondary relationship. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates were denied. The TDIU claim was also remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral femoral and sciatic nerve disorders, as well as his bilateral hip disorder and foot skin disorder (tinea pedis and onychomycosis), are all granted effective from February 17, 2005.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 20 percent, but the Board denied an increased rating. The TDIU claim was also denied as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, right and left lower extremity radiculopathies are granted with a 20% rating for the entire appeal period.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date and a higher rating for his left sciatic nerve radiculopathy, stating that it is part of his service-connected lumbar spine disability rated under DC 5293.

The Veteran is granted annual VA clothing allowances for the year 2017 due to use of his bilateral knee braces, which tend to wear out his pants.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, left leg disability with sciatica, and left eye disability due to incomplete service treatment records. The Veteran will be afforded new VA examinations to address these issues.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for sleep apnea was granted. His radiculopathy of the left lower extremity (sciatic) associated with lumbar degenerative disc disease with radiating symptoms into the left lower extremity is rated at 10 percent, and his major depressive disorder remains at a 30 percent rating.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the establishment of service connection for left lumbosacral radiculopathy and lower extremity sensory polyneuropathy, right lower extremity sensory polyneuropathy, left internal saphenous nerve, and right internal saphenous nerve. The effective date was assigned as March 21, 2017.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional medical opinions and examinations to address the nature, etiology, severity, and service connection of his gastrointestinal disorder, urinary dysfunction, erectile dysfunction, and lumbar spondylosis.

The Veteran's back condition did not manifest ankylosis or incapacitating episodes during the period on appeal. The Board denied a higher disability rating for DJD of the lumbar spine.,The Veteran withdrew his claim for increased tinnitus prior to the promulgation of a decision by the Board.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's neck disability is related to his service. The VA will need to obtain additional medical opinions and records.

The Board has remanded the cases for a new examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity neuropathies due to his testimony suggesting that the previous examination was not fully representative.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened, and he is now entitled to a disability rating of 20 percent for his spondylolisthesis at L5-S1. His right lower extremity radiculopathy also warrants a 40 percent disability rating. However, the TDIU claim was denied as the Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.