Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining private treatment records and a VA examination to determine the severity of the Veteran's lumbar spondylitic changes at L4-L5 and lumbar degenerative disc disease, left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and bony deformity of the mandible.

The Board remands the claims for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for right and left lower extremity sciatica due to the need for a medical opinion that discounts the ameliorative effects of medication.

The Veteran was granted a 50 percent rating for chronic post-traumatic headaches and a 10 percent rating for allergic rhinitis from July 29, 2014, to April 29, 2016. The claim for a higher rating for allergic rhinitis was denied.

The Board granted service connection for anxiety as secondary to a low back disability and associated radiculopathy, but dismissed claims for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims for increased ratings and service connection for various disabilities due to insufficient evidence.

The Board granted an initial 40 percent evaluation for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, but denied a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted an initial disability rating of 40 percent for the lumbar spine disability and an effective date of October 30, 2010, for service connection of radiculopathy of the right lower extremity.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as the evidence did not establish that his service-connected disabilities had precluded him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) secondary to the Veteran's service-connected sleep myoclonus, but denied increased ratings and earlier effective dates for other conditions.

The Board granted the readjudication of the claim for shaving issues/razor bumps and denied service connection for various other conditions, including a neck condition, left shoulder condition, GERD, headaches, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity nerve condition, sleep apnea, urinary frequency, erectile dysfunction, asthma, PTSD, as well as remanding claims for a low back disability, right foot disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board granted service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected low back strain, a right ankle disability as secondary to her service-connected left ankle sprain, and assigned a rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's low back strain.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for sciatic radiculopathy in the left and right lower extremities from April 16, 2020, but denied earlier effective dates and higher ratings prior to that date.

The Board remands the matters for the agency of original jurisdiction to obtain outstanding, relevant private medical records.

The Board granted an effective date of April 22, 2020, for compensable ratings and service connection for sciatic nerve radiculopathy in the right and left lower extremities.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD and alcohol use disorder, finding a nexus to in-service stressors. The other claims are remanded for further evidence.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for asthma, cataracts, congestive heart failure, low back pain, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy due to a duty to assist error related to lost or destroyed service treatment records.

The appeal for an initial disability rating higher than 10 percent for tinnitus was dismissed, and the claim for an initial disability rating higher than 0 percent for hearing loss was denied. Several claims for service connection were remanded.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is rated at 20 percent, and the claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease, other than intervertebral disc syndrome, and lumbosacral strain; right lower extremity radiculopathy; and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome are remanded.

The Board granted an initial rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's service-connected right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), effective April 1, 2023.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates, finding no evidence of a worsening of his conditions that would warrant an increase in compensation.