Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board denied initial disability ratings in excess of the assigned percentages for various conditions, granted a 20 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy and a 10 percent rating for dry eye syndrome, and remanded several claims for further development.

The Board granted increased ratings of 50 percent for the service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability and 20 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy, but remanded a claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board remands the claims for a low back disability rating in excess of 20 percent, service connection for sciatica as secondary to the low back disability, and service connection for a right knee disability due to inadequate medical examinations.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for left lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy, denied an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and restored the 40 percent rating for left lower extremity sciatic, musculocutaneous, and external cutaneous nerve radiculopathy. The Board also remanded claims for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and initial ratings, finding that the evidence did not support an earlier date of entitlement or a higher rating.

The Board remands the claims for a back disorder, sciatica, and kidney stones to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for a new VA examination to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for unspecified depressive disorder and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, as well as remanded several other claims.

The Board remands the claims for a lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy affecting both lower extremities due to missing medical records from VA facilities and an incomplete report of an MRI scan.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for various service-connected conditions, finding that the evidence did not support higher disability ratings under applicable criteria.

The Board denied initial evaluations in excess of 20 percent for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities affecting the sciatic nerve, as there was no evidence to support a finding of complete paralysis or severe incomplete paralysis with marked muscle atrophy.

The Board granted an effective date of June 15, 2021, for a 40 percent evaluation for the chronic orthopedic symptoms of lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease (DDD), and granted a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU) effective October 6, 2023.

The Board denied various claims for increased ratings, earlier effective dates, and other benefits due to the lack of evidence supporting a higher rating or an earlier effective date.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for a back disability, right leg radiculopathy, and right knee disability for additional development.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and assigned a 20% rating for the Veteran's low back condition, while denying increased ratings for her psychiatric and neurological conditions.

The Board remands the claim for a new VA examination to address whether the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy is related to his service-connected chronic thoracolumbar spine strain.

The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for the back disability prior to April 13, 2017, and a 40 percent rating from August 2, 2019, to December 30, 2019, but denied higher ratings in other periods. The Board also remanded several service connection claims.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection as the Veteran passed away during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board denied service connection for dental residuals of full mouth rehabilitation and remanded the claims for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD with hiatal hernia, a separate compensable rating for cholecystectomy residuals, a compensable rating for recurrent uveitis, and separate ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy.