Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral ear disorder and remanded the remaining issues for further development.

The Board granted service connection for insomnia, irritable bowel syndrome with rectal bleeding (IBS), a left hip condition with pain, a right hip condition with pain, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, a left shoulder condition with pain, and a right shoulder condition with pain.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to a rating greater than 20 percent for lumbosacral radiculopathy of the left lower extremity and an initial rating greater than 10 percent for incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve of the right lower extremity for further development.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy, while remanding claims for other conditions including the neck, knees, leg pain, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and pes planus.

The Board remands the claims for further development to ensure that VA substantially complies with its duty to assist the Veteran.

The Board denied service connection for erectile dysfunction and denied higher ratings for various service-connected disabilities, including mental disability, headaches, radiculopathy, cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, and left shoulder.

The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities and denied increased ratings for hypertension, lumbar spine disability, right sciatic radiculopathy, and multiple right knee and hip conditions.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection and higher ratings, except for right lower extremity radiculopathy which was granted an effective date of October 24, 2022.

The Board granted service connection for a right ankle disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right foot disability and arthritis, dismissed entitlement to service connection for right foot pain, denied service connection for left foot bone spurs and left foot pain as secondary to the Veteran's knee disability, and remanded claims for cervical radiculopathy and neck pain.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain and granted an initial 40 percent rating for right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy.

The appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus was denied, while the appeals for ratings in excess of 40 percent for a back condition and in excess of 20 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy were remanded.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions due to untimely filing of a Notice of Disagreement.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease/degenerative arthritis, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy as there was no credible evidence of an in-service injury or a causal relationship between the claimed conditions and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for urinary tract infection (UTI) and remanded claims for post-micturition dribbling and cervical radiculopathy, left upper extremity.

The Board granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and denied increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, right hip strain, left hip strain, sciatic nerve radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and sciatic nerve radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.

The Board granted an initial 40 percent rating for left and right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy based on the symptoms more nearly approximating moderately severe incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve.

The Board denied increased ratings for obstructive sleep apnea/asthma, lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy as the evidence did not support higher ratings.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, right hip strain, left hip strain, right knee strain, sciatica, bilateral lower extremities, and bladder and bowel incontinence.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disability, a right ankle disability and a right knee disability due to insufficient evidence regarding the aggravation of pre-existing conditions.

The Board remands the claims for further development to ensure compliance with previous remand instructions, specifically regarding the distinction between neurological and orthopedic symptoms.