Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board remands the service connection claims for right and left upper extremity radiculopathy to obtain additional medical evidence.

The appeal concerning the disability ratings for thoracolumbar strain with scoliosis and various radiculopathies is dismissed as the appellant withdrew the appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date, a higher disability rating for major depressive disorder, and a higher disability rating for right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, finding that the Veteran's symptoms more nearly approximated moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience, effective July 29, 2016.

The Board granted service connection for a lower back condition, OSA as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected back condition, and chronic bronchitis. The claims for hip arthritis, sciatic neuritis, and unspecified persistent depressive disorder; generalized anxiety disorder were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for right and left upper extremity radiculopathy but denied increased ratings for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine and IVDS, a scar associated with it, and dismissed claims for other conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, as well as special monthly compensation based on housebound criteria.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to improper concurrent election of multiple review options.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for cervical radiculopathy, herniated disc, and spinal stenosis to obtain VA examinations to determine their nature and etiologies.

The Board granted an effective date of February 19, 2020, for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound criteria.

The Board granted restoration of a 20 percent disability rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy associated with degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and IVDS, effective March 19, 2022, while denying higher ratings for other conditions. The Board also granted TDIU since February 16, 2021.

The veteran withdrew the appeal, and all claims were dismissed.

The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder is rated at 50 percent, and his hemorrhoids are not compensable. Other claims for increased ratings for the hips, back, and right lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for tension headache and remanded the claims for service connection for unspecified abdominal pain, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, low back disorder, left leg paralysis of the sciatic nerve (secondary to a service-connected condition), left foot plantar fasciitis (secondary to a service-connected condition), and tinnitus.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board denied an initial rating higher than 10 percent for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, as the Veteran's symptoms were comparable to mild incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve.

The Board remands the claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for cervical spine degenerative arthritis with herniated disc and spinal stenosis, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and right upper extremity radiculopathy, as well as entitlement to special monthly compensation at the housebound rate, due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for tension headaches, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), radiculopathy right lower extremity, and tinnitus due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Board denied increased ratings for right and left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy and radiculopathy, but remanded the case to obtain additional evidence regarding a claim for total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU).