Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board has dismissed the appeals for an increased initial rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy and an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy. The appeal for service connection for OSA, a psychiatric disability, and the spinal disability is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU. The remaining issues of increased ratings for his back and cervical spine conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a back conditions examination.

The Veteran's low back strain with traumatic arthritis is rated at 40 percent, but no higher.,Since August 8, 2017, the Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy has been rated at 60 percent.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's radiculopathy, right lower extremity claim requires further examination and evaluation to determine its etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and paralysis of the sciatic nerve in the Veteran's lower extremities, both found to be secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Veteran's appeals regarding effective dates for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as the reopening of a claim for service connection for a left knee disability, have been dismissed. The Board also remanded several other issues including service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, rating for lumbar spine disability, initial ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and effective dates have been remanded due to the need for further development. The Board found that his left lower extremity radiculopathy is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, while his right lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for cervical degenerative disc disorder (DDD) is denied. A separate 20 percent rating for mild radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities associated with his cervical DDD is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, migraines, and sciatica due to the need for further development including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on all issues except for his claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and whether new and material evidence has been presented to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD. The claims are being remanded for further action.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is granted with a rating of 20 percent, effective prior to September 13, 2016. The right lower extremity radiculopathy remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic pain, a back disability, headaches, sciatica, and depression and anxiety as secondary to Legg Perthes disease due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial evaluations for his service-connected lumbosacral spine disability and associated lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus the Board has granted TDIU.

The Veteran's service connection claims were granted, and he was awarded evaluations for various conditions. The Board also found that some issues required further review.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The decision also remanded several issues, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, kidney stones, earlier effective dates, and TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for a separate 10 percent evaluation for lower extremity radiculopathy associated with his service-connected lumbar spine disability is granted. The claims for higher initial evaluations of the lumbar spine disability and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for diabetes mellitus and TDIU claim were both granted. The Veteran is now rated at 40% for diabetes mellitus, which includes a non-compensable rating for erectile dysfunction.