Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine with sciatica, right hip condition, and left knee condition. The evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether these conditions were caused by service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for right proximal fibula or Maisonneuve fracture residuals was denied as there is no legal basis to allow for an earlier effective date.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for right lower extremity radiculopathy was denied because the condition did not exist prior to June 3, 2015.

The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy involving the sciatic nerve is characterized by moderately severe incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve, and a rating of 40 percent has been granted.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of September 5, 2013 for the grant of service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy and an award of 10 percent for service-connected cervical spine, cervical spondylosis DJD with IVDS with scar.

Service connection is denied for hypertension, right foot pain, and left foot pain. The Veteran's claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea remains pending. The propriety of the severance of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy must be remanded.,Obstructive sleep apnea is at least as likely as not related to or aggravated by the Veteran’s service-connected psychological disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability. The issue of service connection for radiculopathy of the right upper extremity is remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran currently has this condition or if it is related to his cervical spine disability. The TDIU and increased rating claims are also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disorder, left and right lower extremity radiculopathies, and PTSD have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection or secondary service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence received, but did not specify any outcome or rating assigned.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, finding that there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was denied a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to January 24, 2019 and in excess of 30 percent from that date.,Radiculopathy of the right upper extremity and left lower extremity were both denied ratings in excess of 20 percent.,Left upper extremity radiculopathy was also denied a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to January 24, 2019.

The Board denied service connection for low back, sciatica, right hip, left hip, right knee, and left knee conditions due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between the current disabilities and in-service activities.

The Veteran's increased rating for headaches is granted, and her TDIU is also granted. The cervical spine strain with posttraumatic cervical radiculopathy and residuals of small broad base disc bulge at the level of L4-5 and L5-S1 lumbar spine are both remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of July 31, 1995 for the grant of service connection for cervical radiculopathy, Parson-Turner syndrome, and right upper extremity nerve damage.

The Veteran's right lumbar radiculopathy is granted, and for the entire rating period on appeal, a 40 percent disability rating for left lumbar radiculopathy involving the sciatic nerve is granted.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for bilateral ingrown toenail disability is denied. Entitlement to service connection for a headache disability is denied. An effective date of September 15, 2013, but not earlier, for the assignment of a 10 percent rating for a lumbar spine disability is granted. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral elbow strain, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II was denied. The Board also found that the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to February 9, 2015, due to service-connected disabilities, should be remanded as it does not meet the schedular criteria but may potentially qualify for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as major depressive disorder, is granted. The initial ratings for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities are denied. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected sciatic nerve involvement of the left and right lower extremities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for bilateral hip osteoarthritis and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to inadequate opinions in the August 2017 addendum. The VA examiner is required to provide an opinion on whether the service-connected lumbar spine and/or bilateral radiculopathy disabilities cause or aggravate the Veteran’s bilateral hip osteoarthritis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, sleep apnea, a toenail fungus, GERD with constipation, PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity (sciatic nerve), peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity (sciatic nerve), peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity (anterior crural nerve), and peripheral neuropathy of the right upper and left upper extremities. The Veteran's claims for service connection were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.