Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date, a higher initial rating for his mental health condition, and increased ratings for his right ankle, back, and nerve conditions.

The Board granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the right ankle with soft tissue swelling, and for radiculopathy in both lower extremities due to a service-connected back disability. The Veteran was also granted an increased rating of 40 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Board granted an effective date of May 1, 2023 for the grant of service connection of radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, femoral nerve.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, as well as remanded certain issues for further development.

The Board granted higher ratings for the Veteran's service-connected neck, right and left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, right and left upper extremity radiculopathy, left hip (extension, flexion, abduction), right hip (extension, flexion, abduction), left knee (flexion), right knee (flexion), and left ankle (dorsiflexion, plantar flexion) disabilities, but denied higher ratings for the Veteran's service-connected low back disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased initial rating and service connection for radiculopathy, left lower extremity.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date, a higher initial rating for his mental health condition, and increased ratings for his right ankle, back, and nerve conditions.

The Board remands the claims for further development and readjudication by the AOJ.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as well as remanded several other claims.

The Board remands the claim for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for lumbar radiculopathy of the left lower extremity prior to September 6, 2023, as a medical opinion is necessary to determine the severity of the Veteran's condition.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for thoracolumbar spondylosis and degenerative disc disease, service connection for a skin condition, and TDIU due to insufficient evidence.

The Board granted service connection for a right shoulder disability, back disability, and related secondary conditions based on in-service injuries.

The Board denied various claims for increased ratings and effective dates, but granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from September 7, 2021.

The Board remands the claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU to correct a duty to assist error, specifically related to VA treatment records that were not properly associated with the claims file.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, but remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, sinusitis, lumbar spine disability, and lower extremity radiculopathy for further development.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the awards of a 70 percent rating for PTSD, TDIU, DEA eligibility, and ratings for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve.

The Board granted increased initial ratings for cervical spine strain and cervicothoracic radiculopathy of both upper extremities, as well as service connection for right hand and wrist pain. The left hand disability was denied.

The Veteran is granted eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing due to his permanent and total service-connected disability affecting both lower extremities, which precludes locomotion without the aid of assistive devices.

The Board denied increased disability ratings for the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, chronic left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, surgical scar of the lumbar spine, and tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, lumbago with sciatica, and left hip degenerative change as the evidence did not support a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's active service.