Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board granted service connection for migraines and remanded the claims for cervical radiculopathy, left hip condition, and lower extremity radiculopathy for further development.

The Board remands the claims for a cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and sciatic nerve radiculopathy to provide the Veteran with VA examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for the right femur fracture with subsequent pinning of the right upper thigh, and both hip strains with lumbar radiculopathy as secondary to the right femur condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for various conditions and DEA benefits, as no formal or informal claim was filed prior to January 18, 2023.

The Board remands the claims for an initial rating higher than 30 percent for migraine headaches and earlier effective dates for various service-connected conditions, as well as the claim for Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to a 40 percent rating for chronic lumbosacral strain with arthritis and a 20 percent rating for right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy from July 22, 2020 to May 3, 2021 for further development.

The Board granted an effective date of September 18, 2017 for the award of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy and denied earlier effective dates for a 20 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy, a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, and a rating in excess of 20 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy. The Board remanded the issue of service connection for sleep apnea.

The Board denied initial ratings higher than 20 percent for right and left sciatic and femoral nerve lumbar radiculopathy.

The Veteran is granted SMC at the L rate based on the need for regular aid and attendance since November 1, 2017, but denied prior to that date.

The Board remands the issues for further review by the AOJ, as additional evidence has been received since the last SSOC and the Veteran requested a remand.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, from October 1, 2017.

The Board granted a disability rating of 40 percent for left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy and a separate 30 percent rating for left lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy beginning June 28, 2018.

The Board denied various claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates, as well as service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of August 31, 2020 for a TDIU but denied earlier effective dates for the service connection of lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy of both lower extremities.

The Board remands the claims for service connection due to duty-to-assist errors, including missing Reserve records and outstanding SSA records.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disorder and radiculopathy, right lower extremity, to obtain an addendum opinion addressing the nature and etiology of any current back disorder and associated radiculopathy.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for all service connection claims.

The Board remands the claims for an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for a low back disability, an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for sciatic nerve radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and entitlement to a TDIU due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The appeal for service connection for low back condition, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy has been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, granted a separate rating for neuralgia of the right sciatic nerve, and denied an initial compensable rating for chronic nasal congestion. The Board also remanded entitlement to service connection for a right hip condition.