Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and also granted initial ratings of 30 percent for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve.

The Board granted restoration of a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's back disability and denied ratings in excess of 10 percent for acid reflux, as well as higher ratings for left and right femoral nerve radiculopathy. The Board also remanded several service connection claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for various service-connected conditions, including frostbite residuals of the upper and lower extremities, left hip strain, tinnitus, depressive and alcohol use disorders, radiculopathy, anosmia, right upper eyelid scar, cervical spine disability, and lumbosacral strain.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the back disability from January 25, 2023, to May 31, 2023, and denied a rating in excess of 100 percent between May 31, 2023, and October 1, 2023. The remaining claims for increased ratings for the back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy were remanded.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection and increased ratings, finding no basis in law or facts to support claims for earlier effective dates.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for low back disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy to obtain an additional VA opinion.

The appeal for service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy was dismissed as the AOJ granted service connection within a September 2024 decision.

The Board remands the matter for additional evidentiary development to properly assess the severity of the Veteran's back disability, including a retrospective opinion on range of motion findings prior to April 5, 2022.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an increased disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected right lower extremity radiculopathy and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for further development.

The Veteran's service connection for asthma was denied, but a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from October 11, 2017 was granted.

The Board granted initial disability ratings of 40 percent for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve from January 18, 2012 to November 2, 2017, and separate 10 percent ratings for various other nerves starting on November 18, 2024.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including right ankle condition, back disorder, neck disorder, and radiculopathies in the upper and lower extremities.

The Veteran withdrew her claims for service connection for depression, a left lower extremity sciatic nerve disability, and an increased rating for a right lower extremity sciatic nerve disability. The appeal was dismissed.

The Board granted a separate 10 percent rating for left knee instability and a 40 percent rating for lumbar spine disability, while dismissing appeals for increased ratings on the left knee. Service connection was also granted for right and left foot plantar fasciitis.

The Board granted a 10 percent rating for the residuals of right ring finger mid-metacarpal fracture remodeling surgery based on painful motion of the wrist from July 6, 2021, to June 14, 2022, and denied a higher rating since June 15, 2022. The Board also granted a separate 10 percent rating for painful motion of the right long finger since July 6, 2021.

The Board granted an initial rating of 30 percent for cervical strain with degenerative arthritis, effective July 23, 2019.

The Board granted increased ratings for the Veteran's low back strain and right ankle strain, as well as a TDIU prior to December 23, 2022, and an effective date of December 21, 2017, but no earlier, for DEA benefits.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD and a rating in excess of 20 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's appeals for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, right knee, left knee, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity disabilities as new and relevant evidence was not received.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent for the right leg or 10 percent for the left leg.