Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board has remanded the issues of increased ratings for lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to insufficient evidence or further development being necessary.

The Veteran's neck disability is related to service and granted. The Board also remanded cases for back, radiculopathy, insomnia, and vertigo.

The Board has granted separate ratings of 30 percent for left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy and 40 percent for right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, effective March 16, 2017.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for service connection of left lower extremity radiculopathy, and the Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for service connection for left upper extremity radiculopathy and bilateral plantar fasciitis prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has granted service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and denied service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and prostate cancer. The decision is based on the Veteran's diagnosed conditions and their relationship to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding the Veteran's cervical spine disorder, lumbosacral spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, and right hip disorder with associated right lower extremity radiculopathy. The issues are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected Generalized Anxiety Disorder alone does not result in functional impairment that precludes him from maintaining substantially gainful employment, thus TDIU for a single service-connected disability is denied.

The Veteran's combined disability rating was 100% from February 6, 2006. The Veteran died in February 2020 and had been receiving a total disability rating for at least 10 years immediately preceding his death. Therefore, DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 are granted.

The claims seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for left foot and bladder disabilities, as well as service connection for tinnitus, are dismissed due to lack of new and relevant evidence. The claim seeking service connection for bilateral knee disabilities is readjudicated.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right lower extremity and left lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the evidence does not support a finding of moderate symptoms.

The Veteran's request for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance of another person is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. A VA examination is needed to determine if his service-connected disabilities require regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations and effective dates have been denied. The Veteran's arteriosclerotic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are currently rated at 60 percent, 20 percent, and varying percentages respectively.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left ankle strain, migraines, and tinnitus due to procedural issues. The low back condition, right foot condition, and current diagnoses have been denied as not related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his lumbar spine condition and left lower extremity radiculopathy were denied. The lumbar spine condition was rated at 20 percent, while the left lower extremity radiculopathy remained at 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the back and right ankle, but denied service connection for LLE radiculopathy and plantar fasciitis.

The appeal is dismissed as the benefit sought on appeal has been granted by the AOJ in a September 2024 amended fee decision.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including chronic sinusitis, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, thoracic outlet syndrome in both upper extremities, migraines, GERD, and low back disability, have been granted. The Veteran also received a 50% rating for his migraines.

The Board has determined that the AOJ's decision denying eligibility for the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) is not supported by adequate reasoning and must be remanded to allow for a thorough review, including obtaining medical opinions on whether it is in the best interest of the Veteran to participate in the PCAFC program.