Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when considered together, did not cause him to be unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to April 24, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings and earlier effective dates due to duty-to-assist errors, including incomplete medical records and failure to obtain SSA and private chiropractic care records. The AOJ will request these records and schedule a new examination.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and its associated peripheral neuropathy were granted with effective dates of July 9, 2024.,Eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) under Chapter 35 was also granted with an effective date of July 9, 2024.

The Board has granted service connection for left leg radiculopathy, right leg neuropathy, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to the Veteran's in-service trauma. The disabilities are found to be secondary to his lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including cervical spine, lumbar spine, and right hip conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity was restored to 20 percent, effective February 24, 2020. The Veteran's depressive disorder and scars were all granted increased ratings.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus has been granted. The Veteran's claim for increased rating for insomnia disorder is dismissed.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for mental health condition, left lower extremity sciatic nerve pain, and right lower extremity sciatic nerve pain are being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back condition, neck condition, right leg condition (sciatica), and foot condition due to active duty military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy in his lower extremities due to a lack of an adequate medical opinion addressing whether the claimed disabilities are caused or aggravated by his service-connected pes planus with plantar fasciitis. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the service connection claims.

The Veteran's conditions do not meet the criteria for eligibility for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation due to their service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to deficiencies in prior VA examinations and for a new examination that meets specific criteria.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability and bilateral upper extremity cervical radiculopathy are granted service connection as they were incurred during active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to a duty to assist error in failing to notify the Veteran of VA's inability to obtain private medical treatment records from identified providers.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for IVDS with degenerative arthritis and lumbar spondylosis, as well as radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, have been granted at a 20% rating each. The effective dates are not specified.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment since May 15, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted with effective dates of June 29, 2015. The Veteran is rated at 100% for his coronary artery disease and TERA participation.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection, and secondary service connection have been remanded due to procedural errors.,Specifically, the VA examination reports are inadequate as they do not consider the ameliorative effects of medication used by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in relative equipoise for the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as left and right upper extremity neuropathy (excluding carpal tunnel syndrome), thus granting these claims.

The Veteran's claim for specially adapted housing is denied due to the lack of evidence showing loss of use of an extremity or complete paralysis of the external popliteal nerve. The case is remanded for further evaluation.