Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board granted an earlier effective date of January 30, 2020, for the grant of service connection for posttraumatic arthritis of the left-hand long finger but denied earlier effective dates for other claims.

The Board remands the veteran's claims for further development and to correct pre-decisional errors in fulfilling its duty to assist.

The Board granted service connection for a migraine headache disorder and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, and assigned a 10 percent rating for his lumbar area surgical scar. The remaining claims were remanded for further development.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral flat foot, left and right knee disorders, left leg disorder, right hip disorder, prostate disorder, lower back disorder, and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy/radiculopathy, to cure pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board denied an increased rating for lumbosacral strain but granted initial ratings of 20 percent for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and remanded the claim for service connection for a right knee disability.

The Board remands the matters for a new examination to determine the severity of the Veteran's cervical spine, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy disabilities, discounting the beneficial effects of the Veteran's medications.

The Board denied an effective date prior to September 25, 2018, for the award of a separate rating for RUE radiculopathy and remanded claims for initial ratings in excess of 20 percent for RUE radiculopathy and a separate rating for LUE radiculopathy associated with degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy from January 30, 2013, and denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent prior to January 30, 2013, and in excess of 20 percent from January 30, 2013, for left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for polyradiculopathy L3-5 active (sciatic) and in excess of 50 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome, for the period from July 23, 2013, to present, for further development.

The Board denied an increased rating for tinnitus and remanded the claims for lumbar spine IVDS, radiculopathy of both lower extremities, service connection for a psychiatric disorder, and TDIU due to further development needed.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, effective June 1, 2022, but denied a higher rating for lumbosacral strain with IVDS during the appeal period.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings, TDIU, and SMC due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error in the evaluation of the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied increased ratings for degenerative change of the lumbar spine with strain, hearing loss, and residuals of fractured right 5th metacarpal with right hand arthritis. The claims for service connection for vision loss, left shoulder pain and limited mobility, varicose veins, and TDIU were remanded.

The Board granted an effective date of April 15, 2024 for the grant of service connection and increased ratings for radiculopathies of the upper and lower extremities, but denied earlier effective dates for cervical strain and thoracolumbar sprain.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings for his service-connected conditions, finding no evidence to support a higher rating or an earlier effective date.

The Board granted an effective date of October 28, 2022, for the award of a separate rating for impairment of the sciatic nerve of the right lower extremity associated with service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied an initial compensable rating for erectile dysfunction, while remanding the claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for temporomandibular joint disorder, low back condition, right lower extremity radiculopathy, acquired psychiatric disorder, and bilateral hearing loss to obtain additional evidence.

The Board remands several issues for further development, including service connection claims and increased rating claims for various disabilities.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the award of service connection and increased ratings, except for a 40 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the spine which was granted with an effective date of November 9, 2012.