Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board remands the claims for further development and to correct pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Board granted service connection for cervical strain and right lower extremity disability, both secondary to the Veteran's spine disability, but denied service connection for a recurrent earache disability. The rating was increased from 20% to 40% prior to December 27, 2024.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, effective April 30, 2021.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy due to evidence of worsening symptoms and the need for a new VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for right lower and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, a rating in excess of 50 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder and depression, and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension. However, the TDIU was granted.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected left knee, lumbar spine, and sciatic nerve radiculopathy disabilities but granted TDIU from September 14, 2020, to November 20, 2022, and from June 21, 2023, to July 30, 2024.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability and denied increased ratings for various disabilities, but granted a temporary 100 percent rating from April 14, 2021, through May 31, 2021, and a minimum 30 percent thereafter for the Veteran's right hip status post arthroplasty.

The Board remanded several claims for service connection and initial ratings, including cervical spine degenerative arthritis with strain, left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy middle radicular group as secondary to cervical spine degenerative arthritis with strain, peripheral neuropathy of the left hand, peripheral neuropathy of the right hand, lumbosacral strain, a left knee scar, and a right knee scar. The appeal for TDIU was dismissed as moot.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's motions for revision of the February 24, 2021, Rating Decision based on clear and unmistakable error regarding the effective dates for service connection of radiculopathy in both lower extremities.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for cervical strain with bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board granted an initial evaluation of 20 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy, femoral nerve involvement and sciatic nerve involvement.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and left lower extremity radiculopathy, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The remaining claims were remanded.

The Board granted an initial rating of 20 percent, but no higher, for right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy associated with lumbar strain with piriformis syndrome.

The Board denied entitlement to higher disability ratings for chronic sinusitis, low back disability, cervical spine disability, radiculopathy right upper extremity, and thoracolumbar spine scar. The Board also remanded service connection claims for left and right knee disabilities.

The Veteran was granted a 100 percent disability rating for somatic symptom disorder with predominant pain and major depressive episodes, effective May 6, 2021. The right ankle debridement of arthritis, post traumatic, was denied a higher rating, while service connection was granted for right knee pain but denied for low back pain and radiculopathy in the lower right extremity.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right shoulder, back condition, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral hearing loss to obtain additional evidence and a VA examination.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the service connection of bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and a higher rating for low back disability but granted initial ratings of 40 percent for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, bilateral tinnitus, and a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis based on the evidence not supporting a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of March 29, 2006, for the grant of service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy based on secondary service connection to a low-back disability.

The Board dismissed the appeal regarding the proposed reduction of the rating for unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress and alcohol use disorder, as no reduction had occurred. The reductions in ratings for right lower extremity radiculopathies were proper, and a higher rating for lumbosacral strain was denied.