Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board granted an effective date of March 31, 2016, for the award of TDIU based on a finding that the Veteran detrimentally relied on misleading VA communications.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on loss of use of the bilateral lower extremities, finding that the evidence did not support a determination that he lost the use of both legs prior to October 29, 2019.

The Board granted service connection for vertigo as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus and dismissed the appeal for sleep apnea. The claims for a cervical spine disability and bilateral radiculopathy were remanded.

The Board granted a rating of 40 percent for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy from May 15, 2024, but denied ratings in excess of 20 percent prior to that date.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, right shoulder disability, right knee disability, degenerative changes of the thoracolumbar spine, degenerative changes of the cervical spine, right upper extremity radiculopathy, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus as there was no evidence to support a current diagnosis or a link to active service.

The Board remands the claims for further development to obtain a more detailed medical examination of the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity radiculopathy were granted a 10 percent rating from December 30, 2022 to May 21, 2024.

The Board remands the appeal to obtain a more adequate medical examination and opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy without the alleviating effects of his medications.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a left ankle disability, right knee strain, and bilateral lower extremity sciatica due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board granted service connection for cervical spondylosis with left radiculopathy, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in the need for regular aid and attendance, warranting special monthly compensation.

The Board granted service connection for back disability, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, and migraines. The effective date for erectile dysfunction and special monthly compensation was also granted.

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral strain and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, finding no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board denied initial 20 percent ratings prior to November 7, 2019 for service-connected right and left lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities due to the evidence showing no more than mild incomplete paralysis.

The Board denied initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for various radiculopathies affecting the lower extremities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board remands the claim for an extraschedular total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to April 30, 2020, as it needs additional medical evidence to differentiate between symptoms attributable to service-connected and non-service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including vision disability, bilateral hearing loss, hypercholesterolemia, knee disabilities, low testosterone, migraine, penile condition, sciatic nerve disabilities, and sleep apnea.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and granted earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA.

The Board denied an initial disability rating greater than 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy as the evidence did not support symptoms of moderate or more severe incomplete paralysis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and higher ratings for his service-connected conditions, except for a 20% rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve from October 2, 2020 to April 20, 2022, and a 40% rating since April 20, 2022.