Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his back and lower extremity radiculopathy conditions, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under applicable criteria.

The Board granted an effective date of February 22, 2011, for the grant of service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain with thoracic strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve due to insufficient information in the VA examination reports.

The Veteran's claim for specially adapted housing was granted, while his TDIU claim prior to May 31, 2020, was denied. The low back disability rating issue is remanded for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for right lower extremity radiculopathy and back injury, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings.

The Board remands the claims for increased disability ratings and TDIU due to insufficient evidence regarding the severity of the Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, and lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities.

The appeal is remanded for additional development, specifically to obtain a resume or curriculum vitae (CV) for the VA examiner who conducted the Veteran's December 17, 2020, VA back (thoracolumbar spine) conditions Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ).

The Board granted a 30 percent disability rating for right carpal tunnel syndrome affecting the median nerve prior to December 16, 2024, and a separate 30 percent rating for right CTS affecting the ulnar nerve. The left CTS was rated at 20 percent throughout the initial period, but higher ratings were denied.

The Board remands the claims for further development to clarify the severity of the Veteran's lower extremity nerve conditions during the entire period on appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings or an earlier effective date.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for back pain, chronic sciatica pain, herniated disc, and scoliosis due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for increased ratings and restored previous ratings for various service-connected disabilities.

The appeal for service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hand (fingers/thumb) condition, ankle pain, foot pain, hip pain, knee pain, low back pain, migraines, sciatica, and TBI, has been withdrawn by the appellant's representative.

The Board granted readjudication of the claims for restoration of service connection and the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, as new and relevant evidence was received.

All appeals for service connection and rating reduction were dismissed due to concurrent election of review options.

The Board granted the restoration of a 10 percent rating for seborrheic dermatitis, and granted effective dates of July 16, 2021 or August 20, 2021 for several other conditions, while denying earlier effective dates for some.

The Board remanded the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and DIC benefits because the Regional Office failed to obtain a VA medical opinion to determine whether the veteran's service-connected disabilities caused, contributed to, or aggravated his death from metastatic colon cancer. The Board found a reasonable possibility that a medical opinion would aid in substantiating the claim, particularly regarding whether alcohol use disorder was a risk factor for the colon cancer.

The Board granted a 100 percent initial disability rating for major depressive disorder and denied all other claims for increased ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected bladder dysfunction was granted a maximum rating of 60 percent, and an effective date of April 29, 2015, for the award of TDIU was also granted.

The appeal for service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral ankle pain, foot pain, hip pain, knee pain, low back pain, and sciatica, has been withdrawn by the appellant's representative.