Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board granted an effective date of January 27, 1969, for the grant of service connection for right and left lower extremity femoral radiculopathy.

The Board granted ratings of 10 percent for allergic rhinitis, 30 percent for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) right upper extremity, and 30 percent for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), while denying a rating in excess of 70 percent for depressive disorder. The IVDS lumbar spine was granted a 40 percent rating, with separate ratings of 20 percent each for the left and right lower extremities.

The rating reduction for service-connected left lower extremity (LLE) radiculopathy from 20 percent to noncompensable was improper, and the appeal to restore the 20 percent rating is granted.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain and right lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as a compensable rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted an initial rating of 40 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic) from April 4, 2023.

The Board remands the claims for further development to ensure compliance with its duty to assist, specifically regarding the adequacy of VA examinations and obtaining a retrospective medical opinion.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of November 30, 2023, for the grant of service connection for a back disability and radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and service connection, except for granting an effective date of September 16, 2022, for service connection for GERD and IBS.

The Board granted service connection for a bilateral foot disability, to include pes planus, plantar fasciitis, and hallux valgus, and an initial 70 percent rating for PTSD. It also granted earlier effective dates for the assignment of ratings for lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted an effective date of July 30, 2021, for the grant of service connection for hypertension and dismissed claims for earlier effective dates for other conditions.

The appeal for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for various conditions, including radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, left lower extremity (femoral nerve), obstructive sleep apnea, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and migraine headaches, was dismissed. The Board also remanded claims for initial disability ratings.

The Board granted service connection for left and right elbow disabilities, as well as initial ratings of 30 percent and 40 percent, respectively, for upper extremity radiculopathy. The claims for higher initial ratings for shoulder strains were denied.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spondylosis, left lower extremity radiculopathy, bilateral hip strain, nosebleeds, allergic rhinitis, and traumatic brain injury as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's active service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right and left upper extremity radiculopathy to afford the Veteran a new VA examination due to an inadequate August 2024 VA examination.

The Board granted readjudication of the claims for service connection based on new and relevant evidence, but remanded several issues for further development.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings and entitlement to a TDIU due to missing private treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for fatigue, traumatic brain injury (TBI), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), left wrist disability, cervical spine disability, radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, and radiculopathy of the left upper extremity as there was no evidence to support a current diagnosis or that these conditions were related to service.

The Board granted an effective date of October 29, 2021 for the award of service connection and increased ratings for left lower extremity radiculopathy, lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks. The claim for sleep apnea was denied.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for stage 3 chronic kidney disease and remanded the claims for increased ratings for back disability, right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, and left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy.

The Board granted a higher initial disability rating of 20 percent for gastrectomy residuals and 10 percent for gastrectomy scars, but denied higher ratings for hypertension, tension headaches, bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and service connection for an enlarged prostate, GERD, cervical spine pain, and right wrist pain.