Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered her so helpless as to require the aid and attendance of another person, thus granting special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance.

The Board grants service connection for a neck condition, left and right arm radiculopathy as secondary to the neck condition, a low back condition, left and right leg radiculopathy as secondary to the low back condition, a headache condition as secondary to the neck condition, and a right shoulder condition.

The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve) is granted a disability rating of 30 percent, but no higher.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and radiculopathy of both lower extremities to obtain an adequate etiological opinion.

The Board granted an effective date of February 9, 2022, for the award of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy and denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the same condition.

The Veteran was granted an initial disability rating of 40 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy from November 20, 2012, and a TDIU from the same date to May 19, 2022. The claims for earlier effective dates for hypertension and tension headaches were denied.

The Board granted service connection for left and right shoulder strains, left and right hip conditions, cervical strain, and secondary radiculopathies of the upper extremities. It denied a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for right total knee arthroplasty, a compensable rating for right knee surgical scar under Diagnostic Code 7802, and a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for major depressive disorder.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) beginning October 29, 2008, and the earlier effective date claims for service connection were either dismissed or remanded.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy due to deficiencies in prior VA examinations.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the low back disability, left leg radiculopathy, and right leg radiculopathy for the entire period on appeal. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was also granted prior to February 13, 2023.

The Board granted service connection for left knee disability, to include left knee joint osteoarthritis on an aggravation basis and for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities. The claim for a higher initial rating for lumbosacral strain with IVDS was denied.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected back condition, right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, and left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy from March 6, 2017.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the lumbar spine disability and a 20 percent rating for left, right sciatic radiculopathy, and left, right femoral radiculopathy. The claims for increased ratings for left ankle and knee disabilities were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back condition, left leg radiculopathy, right leg radiculopathy, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as there was no evidence to support a causal relationship between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Board granted service connection for right and left cervical radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's back disability, but remanded claims for cervical strain and left knee strain.

The Board granted service connection for left leg radiculopathy and increased the rating for chronic sinusitis to 30 percent prior to March 16, 2022. The claims for increased ratings for knee and low back disorders were remanded.

The Board granted an initial rating of 40 percent for the Veteran's service-connected left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic and femoral nerves.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance from November 20, 2019.

The Veteran has been granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability and special monthly compensation due to the service-connected disabilities.

The appeals for increased ratings for back and bilateral knee disabilities, as well as right lower extremity radiculopathy, were dismissed due to the failure to validly opt-in to the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) appeal system.