Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome and left lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine strain, lumbosacral strain with associated sciatica, bilateral hip and knee disabilities, chronic ankle disabilities, foot problems, hypertension, migraine headaches, MDD, and PTSD due to inadequate medical opinions and failure to obtain examinations or opinions where the low threshold of McLendon was met.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding various service connection claims and rating determinations due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's service connection for traumatic brain injury is granted, and he is awarded a higher level of SMC based on the need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected PTSD and additional disabilities.

The Veteran's left and right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) have been granted increased disability ratings of 20 percent, effective April 22, 2024.,The Veteran's left and right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) have been granted increased disability ratings of 20 percent, effective April 22, 2024.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating more than 20 percent for right knee disability is dismissed. The claim of service connection for bone disability and radiculopathy, as secondary to service-connected right knee disability, is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine condition, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The Veteran's conditions are found to be related to his active military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disability and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy were granted effective February 10, 2023.

An effective date of July 1, 2020 is granted for Total Disability Rating based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).,An effective date of July 1, 2020 is also granted for basic eligibility for Chapter 35 Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) due to permanent and total service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity conditions have improved, allowing for a reduction in disability ratings from 20% to 10%. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and right upper extremity radiculopathy are not related to his active service.,The Board also found that the Veteran's lumbar strain, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee disability, right knee disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability were not related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection due to alleged errors in the May 2021 VA examination, including failure to conduct range of motion testing. The AOJ is instructed to obtain an addendum VA medical opinion addressing the severity of the Veteran's back disability throughout the appeal period and a VA examination regarding bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

Your right arm radiculopathy has already been granted in a separate decision, so this appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as well as his low back disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy, have been granted service connection. The initial ratings for the knee disabilities are set at 10 percent each.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder tendonitis and bursitis with snapping syndrome, status post arthroscopic surgery. The claim of service connection for degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease with radiculopathy (claimed as spondylolisthesis, back) is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, lumbosacral degenerative disc disease, and lumbar scar. The remand includes obtaining updated VA examinations to assess the severity of these conditions without the ameliorative effects of medication, as well as determining appropriate effective dates for service connection.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and sciatic radiculopathy of the right lower extremity were granted with effective dates starting from December 1, 2016.,An earlier effective date for femoral radiculopathy of the right lower extremity was also granted on this decision.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of August 12, 2011 for his entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA). The decision is based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since August 12, 2011.

The Veteran's postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) were caused by his service-connected cervical spine disability. The Board granted a 60 percent rating for left upper extremity radiculopathy with Parsonage-Turner Syndrome effective July 13, 2022.

The Board has denied service connection for allergic rhinitis, hypertension, tinea pedis, bilateral pes planus, and bilateral hallux valgus. The Veteran's claims for PTSD and bilateral sciatica are remanded for further development.