Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board denied the claims for service connection for neck and cervical spine injury with fusion, right shoulder strain, and sciatic nerve injury as new and relevant evidence was not submitted since the previous denial.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, and right knee disabilities preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board granted service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy and remanded several other claims, including those for a mental health condition, left shoulder disability, costochondritis, reactive airway disease, and hypertension. The claim for lumbosacral strain to include herniated disc was dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for several conditions, granted a 20 percent rating for chronic fatigue syndrome and a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis, but denied higher ratings for other conditions.

The veteran's appeal requests for extensions to file an appeal on various rating decisions were denied, and the attempted appeals are dismissed.

The Board granted an effective date of November 5, 2018 for the award of service connection for radiculopathy in both femoral and sciatic nerves associated with degenerative arthritis with thoracolumbar strain pattern.

The Board granted initial disability ratings of 40 percent for spondylolisthesis lumbar fusion with bone graft low back, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from January 1, 2016.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for thoracolumbar spine disorder, left leg radiculopathy, bilateral restless leg syndrome, and obstructive and central sleep apnea due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error in not obtaining adequate medical opinions.

The Board remands the claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person to afford the Veteran a VA examination.

The Board granted a disability rating of 30 percent for right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy and 20 percent for left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, but remanded the claim for dysphagia.

The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy was granted an effective date of August 24, 2012. The ratings for the other conditions were denied or remanded.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the Veteran's awards of service connection and denied increased ratings, except for a 20% rating from October 19, 2020 to October 1, 2021 for his lumbar spine disability.

The Board granted service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy and panic disorder, but denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and a respiratory disorder.

The Board remands the claim for special monthly compensation to correct a duty to assist error and to obtain an examination regarding potential loss of use of extremities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for unspecified anxiety disorder, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and right lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board granted earlier effective dates of November 21, 2023, for the evaluations of 40 percent for low back disability, 20 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy, and 20 percent for right knee disabilities.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for lumbar spine disorder, bowel and bladder disorders, and radiculopathy of both lower extremities to correct an error by the RO in satisfying a statutory duty to assist.

The Board remands the claims for further development and adjudication, including a VA examination to determine if any service-connected disability contributed substantially or materially to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for right and left upper extremity radiculopathy as the evidence did not support moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Board granted an initial 20 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, finding that the Veteran's symptoms more closely approximated moderate incomplete paralysis.