Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The appeal for service connection for bilateral upper and lower radicular pain was dismissed, but the Veteran's status post right great metatarsal stress fracture was granted a 20% rating, and his linear scar s/p appendectomy was granted a 10% rating.

The Board granted service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities, as well as radiculopathy of the upper and lower extremities and an insomnia disorder. However, it denied service connection for instability of the left knee and a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus.

The Board granted a 70 percent disability rating for major depressive disorder with primary insomnia effective December 16, 2019, and an initial 40 percent disability rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease from June 27, 2017 through December 6, 2021.

The Veteran's requests for extensions of time to file Board Appeal requests were denied, and the attempted appeals were dismissed.

The Board granted entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance due to the appellant's service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as no evidence supported higher ratings or a grant of service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied due to her failure to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board denied service connection for any acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and remanded the claims for back disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted an initial disability rating of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain, but denied earlier effective dates for the right and left lower extremity radiculopathy involving the sciatic nerve.

The Board denied an increased rating for lumbosacral strain, granted the restoration of service connection for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity sciatic nerve effective June 8, 2023, and remanded claims for a higher rating for ileocolic intestinal resection and GERD, as well as right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for right and left lower extremity sciatica as secondary to lumbosacral strain, and for lumbosacral strain. Service connection was denied for sinusitis. The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings were denied.

The Board denied service connection for liver and kidney disabilities but granted a 70 percent rating for an acquired psychiatric disorder prior to February 3, 2017, a 50 percent rating for a back disability, and a 20 percent rating for left sciatic radiculopathy from July 22, 2008.

The Board denied service connection for allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, and GERD but granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Some issues related to other conditions were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability. Several conditions were remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for right arm radiculopathy and an initial 30 percent evaluation for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), while remanding the remaining claims.

The Board granted service connection for sinusitis, bilateral flatfeet, and tinnitus, assigned an initial 10 percent rating for sinusitis, and remanded claims related to ankle and respiratory disabilities.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for low back pain and sciatic radiculopathy of both lower extremities to obtain a VA examination and medical opinion.

The Board remands the claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for right upper extremity radiculopathy due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for right ear and left ear hearing loss, an increased rating for depressive disorder with anxiety disorder and insomnia, and an increased rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral flatfoot (pes planus) and right lower extremity radiculopathy were remanded.

The Board granted an August 10, 2022 effective date for the grant of service connection for hypothyroidism and denied increased ratings for tinnitus and a nonpainful and stable scar on the lumbar midline. Other claims were remanded.