Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board granted an effective date of February 21, 2020, for the award of a 30 percent rating for cervical spine disability and a separate 20 percent rating for right upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy as secondary to the service-connected cervical spine DDD, and increased the rating of post concussive headache associated with TBI to 50 percent effective August 20, 2020.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease, posttraumatic stress disorder, and a cervical spine disability. A 40 percent rating was granted for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.

The Board denied an increased rating for the lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, IVDS and herniated disc but granted increased ratings of 20 percent for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral and sciatic nerves) and remanded service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board granted restoration of the 20 percent disability rating for radiculopathy affecting the right lower extremity, finding that the reduction was improper. The Board also remanded a claim for service connection for a left knee disability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including tinnitus and headaches, due to a duty-to-assist error regarding VA examinations.

The Board remands the claims for an initial evaluation more than 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of cervical spine and more than 30 percent for right upper extremity (RUE) radiculopathy and carpal tunnel syndrome to ensure adequate examinations are conducted.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and remanded the claims for a left knee disorder, right knee disorder, low back disorder, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a TDIU and earlier effective dates for service connection of various disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support entitlement to these benefits.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal regarding severance of service connection for right and left lower sciatic radiculopathy and an increased rating for lumbosacral DDD during a hearing, and these issues are dismissed.

The appeal was denied for an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for peripheral vestibular damage with vertigo of the left ear, and remanded for further evaluation of other conditions.

The Board remands the claims for further development and to address whether right lower extremity radicopathy was properly before the Board, and if so, adjudicate the claim.

The Board denied a higher initial rating for the Veteran's service-connected left lower extremity sciatica, finding that it does not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 40 percent.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for low back and lower extremity radiculopathies due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding aggravation of a pre-existing condition.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's left shoulder and neck disabilities, but granted an earlier effective date for right upper extremity radiculopathy as secondary to a service-connected neck disability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for lumbar spine, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right hip disabilities to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's low back and sciatic radiculopathy disabilities, but granted service connection for a right shoulder disability.

The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for right foot pes planus and a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar spine disability, but granted a 30 percent disability rating for radiculopathy, femoral nerve, left lower extremity (LLE) and right lower extremity (RLE), and denied a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The appeal was dismissed as a timely substantive appeal to the October 2017 rating decision was not received.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition, to include degenerative disc disease, spinal fusion, and lumbar radiculopathy, due to an inadequate VA examination.