Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hip sciatic neuritis, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board granted a rating of 40 percent for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, finding that the evidence more nearly approximates moderately severe incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerves.

The Board dismissed the appeal for higher disability evaluations for multiple conditions due to a prohibited concurrent election under the modernized review system.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine and left lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to a back disability due to missing records and an inadequate VA examination.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for service connection and ratings for various conditions, denied higher ratings, and granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board granted service connection for anxiety disorder, acne, heart palpitations/mitral valve prolapse, irritable bowel syndrome and esophagitis, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy, effective April 1, 2017. It denied an earlier effective date for migraines, pes planus, plantar fasciitis, and hallux valgus.

The Board denied service connection for pneumonia and pneumonia residuals, while remanding the claims for service connection for migraine headaches, cervical strain (claimed as degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine), radiculopathy in both upper extremities.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the claims for a lumbar spine disorder, bilateral lumbar radiculopathy, and bilateral shin splints.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy from December 13, 2021, through March 1, 2023.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates, service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2, and higher ratings for various disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent due to total occupational and social impairment, and he is entitled to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board remands the claims for a higher rating for right and left upper extremity radiculopathy prior to September 23, 2002 due to an incomplete medical opinion.

The Board remands the claims for earlier effective dates of 40 percent ratings for back disability, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy to correct a duty to assist error related to missing VA treatment records.

The Board granted an effective date of July 24, 2018 for the grant of service connection for sciatic lumbar radiculopathy in both the left and right lower extremities.

The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve of the left lower extremity and denied increased ratings for the left knee disability, as well as service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted a 40 percent initial evaluation for left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy and a 20 percent initial evaluation for right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, finding that there was no evidence of worsening or increase in severity within the year prior to April 9, 2021.

The Board granted service connection for low back degenerative disc disease (DDD) with spondylosis, a post-surgical low back scar, and sciatic radiculopathy of both lower extremities. It also granted an increased rating of 30 percent for cervical spine disc protrusions.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and denied earlier effective dates for increased ratings and special monthly compensation claims.

The Board denied service connection for a low back condition and related radiculopathies of the lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct or secondary relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.