Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded substantially gainful employment, and a TDIU is granted. The evaluation for lumbar strain remains remanded due to the need for an updated examination.

The appeal for service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy is dismissed as the claim has already been granted.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction (ED) was denied because it is not secondary to service-connected lower back problems and is not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,PFB was denied as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis at any time during the pendency of the claim.,The appeal for bilateral knee osteoarthritis and osteophytes is remanded, meaning further action by the AOJ is required.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis has been denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,The effective date for bilateral hearing loss was not earlier than August 2, 2023.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on functional limitations or incapacitating episodes.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the issue regarding radiculopathy of left lower extremity. The Veteran's degenerative disc disease with spondylolisthesis, right shoulder impingement syndrome, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity are all granted as secondary to service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to procedural errors in obtaining private medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the claims for back injury and radiculopathy of the right leg are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to November 22, 2021, for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and dependency and indemnity compensation (DEA). The Board found that there was no evidence showing the Veteran could not maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's back disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy are granted with effective dates of January 30, 2020.

The Veteran's ratings for cervical radiculopathy in both upper extremities were reduced from 40% and 30%, respectively, to 20%. The Board found that the procedural requirements for reduction of disability ratings were not properly followed and restored the original ratings.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral spine degenerative arthritis with IVDS and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted. The rating of 30% for right carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) with right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy from June 15, 2018, to January 19, 2021, is also confirmed.

The Veteran's sciatic peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities is rated at 40 percent since January 14, 2020.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including a VA examination to address the Veteran's symptoms and their impact on his service-connected conditions.

The Board has denied the claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, and right lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve due to insufficient evidence of a current disability. The claim for sleep apnea is remanded as there are pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to potential missing treatment records and deficiencies in the VA examinations used. The Veteran will need new disability benefit questionnaires completed, as well as new VA examinations with specific range of motion measurements.

The Veteran's appeal for earlier effective dates for service connection has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing the appeal.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to duty-to-assist errors, including the failure to obtain private treatment records and employment information from his employer. The issue of mootness regarding the combined 100 percent rating for service-connected disabilities was not addressed.

The Board has determined that the decision on appeal is legally inadequate due to insufficient notification and an inadequately supported medical opinion. The case is being remanded for further action.

The Veteran's initial ratings for left and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy have been granted at 20% and 40%, respectively, based on moderate to moderately severe incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve.