Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits were granted effective February 4, 2019. The left hip strain rating was denied, as well as the RLE radiculopathy service connection claim.

The Veteran's claim for a 10 percent rating for residual, scar left medial thigh, status post gunshot wound is granted. The Veteran's PTSD with AUD, Moderate is rated at 70 percent and TDIU based on PTSD alone is granted. Service connection for hypertension, GERD, migraines, COPD, back disability, neck disability, right upper extremity neuropathy, left upper extremity neuropathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy are all granted. The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for gunshot wound right buttock with sciatic nerve involvement (to include peripheral neuropathy right leg/foot), gunshot wound, left thigh, multiple painful scars bilateral lower extremities, and residuals, scar right buttock and lateral leg is remanded.

An effective date of December 4, 2017, but no earlier, is granted for the grant of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve) and left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve). An initial evaluation higher than 20 percent for these conditions is denied.,An effective date of December 4, 2017, but no earlier, is granted for the grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound criteria. An earlier effective date for service connection for low back disability is denied.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Board finds that an examination is needed to determine if the Veteran requires aid and attendance of another person due to his service-connected disabilities alone.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy. The effective date of this decision is July 27, 2022.

The Board granted earlier effective dates of October 6, 2006 for the service connection of type II diabetes mellitus with hypertension and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to diabetes. The Veteran's exposure to herbicides during service at U-Tapao RTAFB in Thailand is presumed related to his diabetes.

The Veteran's radiculopathies of the left and right lower extremities, sciatic nerve, are rated at 10 percent each. The appeal for increased ratings is denied.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted an increased rating of 40 percent.,The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine strain is denied a higher than 20 percent rating.,An effective date prior to December 16, 2020 for the award of service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted.,Service connection for a right knee condition and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, and cervical radiculopathy. The decision is based on evidence showing that obesity, a result of immobility due to service-connected disabilities, exacerbated the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinnitus, low back disorder, and right lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for additional development. The Veteran will be provided with a VA examination to determine the severity of his service-connected low back disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for lower back disability, erectile dysfunction (ED), headaches, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), chronic sinusitis, vertigo, neck disability, right upper and left upper extremity radiculopathy, voiding dysfunction, pseudo folliculatis barbae, right wrist pain, left wrist pain, right hip pain, left hip pain, and right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, ischemic heart disease, diabetic neuropathy, prostate cancer residuals, bilateral diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities (sciatic), and diabetes mellitus Type 2, combine to result in physical or mental impairment that renders him so helpless as to require regular aid and attendance of another person. However, the need for aid and attendance must be determined without considering nonservice-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for a medical opinion regarding the effects of medications on the severity and manifestations of the Veteran's service-connected left and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right lower extremity and left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy warrants effective dates of September 1, 2008. However, the claims for service connection for a recurrent left hip disability and increased ratings for right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy are remanded due to deficiencies in the VA examination report.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, finding that there was no evidence of any in-service incident or injury to which his current disorders may be etiologically linked.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for all issues in the docket, resulting in the dismissal of the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy on the basis of CUE in the February 1996 rating decision have been denied. The May 2022 rating decision is also dismissed as it failed to grant service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than January 10, 2019 for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity was denied.,The Veteran's claim for a rating higher than 70 percent for PTSD was denied.

The Veteran's appeal for earlier effective dates and increased ratings for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal.

The Board has restored the 10 percent ratings for radiculopathy of the femoral nerve and sciatic nerve of the left lower extremity, granted service connection for various ankle, elbow, cervical, shoulder, and wrist disorders, and remanded the claim for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain.