Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, effective May 17, 2019.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine arthritis with pain, and radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities secondary to degenerative disc disease.

The Board remands the claims for initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and higher ratings for his service-connected conditions, finding no evidence that supported a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to March 9, 2016, or 20 percent from that date.

The appeal was dismissed due to the untimely filing of the Notice of Disagreement within one year after notification of the May 2022 and September 2023 rating decisions.

The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for sinusitis and remanded the claims for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, degenerative joint disease of the left knee, and degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder.

The Board granted service connection for sinusitis on a presumptive basis due to presumed exposure to fine particulate matter during the Veteran's service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations.

The Board granted an initial 20 percent rating for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, but remanded the claims for higher ratings for low back strain and TDIU.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, a left foot disability, major depressive disorder, and secondary disabilities related to the left foot. The remaining claims were remanded.

The Board denied increased ratings for kidney calculus and lumbosacral strain with IVDS, but granted initial 20% ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy. Service connection was granted for carpal tunnel syndrome in both hands.

The Board granted service connection for transverse myelitis, left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to transverse myelitis, and urinary dysfunction secondary to transverse myelitis.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection and increased rating as there was no case or controversy, and the issues were already adjudicated on their merits.

The Board granted service connection for right and left upper extremity radiculopathy, left shoulder pain, acquired psychiatric disabilities (adjustment mood disorder, depressive disorder, mental disorder), and neurogenic bladder (frequent urination) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected conditions.

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD, but denied higher ratings and increased initial ratings for other conditions.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar radiculopathy but denied it for genitourinary kidney problem blood in urine, sleep apnea (OSA), cervical radiculopathy neck, and eye injury.

The appeal resulted in a denial of an earlier effective date for the cervical spine disability and dismissal of the claim for an earlier effective date for left upper extremity radiculopathy, while granting a 30 percent rating for left upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and a TBI. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for allergic rhinitis, right ankle scar associated with ganglion cyst in the soft tissue of the ankle with tenosynovitis, left upper extremity scars associated with post traumatic changes of the left thumb, and post traumatic changes of the left thumb were also denied. Some issues related to service connection have been remanded for further consideration.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, chronic sinusitis, a back disability claimed as low back pain, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity due to insufficient evidence of current disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings and earlier effective dates, as well as service connection for a disability manifested by memory loss claimed as a neurobehavioral effect due to in-service exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board remands the claims for a higher disability rating for back condition, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, and associated service-connected scar due to inadequate VA examination reports.