Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The appeal for increased ratings for right and left upper extremity radiculopathy was dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an effective date prior to October 25, 2021, for service connection of several conditions. The earliest effective date is October 25, 2021.

The Board denied service connection for sleep disorder, left hip condition, bilateral foot condition, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to lack of current diagnoses and functional impairment.

The Board restored the veteran's ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy to 30 percent, effective December 1, 2021, and December 1, 2020, respectively.

The Board denied service connection for left lower and upper extremity radiculopathy because the Veteran did not have a current disorder related to service or secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome, spinal stenosis, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied service connection for left lower and upper extremity radiculopathy because the Veteran did not have a current disorder related to service or secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for a sciatic nerve disorder because there is no current diagnosis or evidence supporting the claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for service-connected radiculopathy conditions.

The veteran's claim for PTSD was denied because they did not attend a scheduled VA examination. The claims for neck condition and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy were dismissed due to improper docketing.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for low back disability and post-operative lumbar spine scar was denied. The veteran was granted a 40% rating for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy and total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The claims for special monthly compensation (SMC) were remanded.

The veteran's request for an increased rating for left shoulder bursitis and post cervical spine fusion with degenerative changes was denied. The veteran was granted a 40 percent rating for left upper extremity radiculopathy but denied an increased rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD is granted, and the remaining issues are remanded.

The Board remands the matter for a new medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's left brachial plexus injury, nerve irritation/trigger point, and radiculopathy/thoracic outlet syndrome are related to his active service.

The Board denied ratings in excess of the assigned percentages for the Veteran's back and sciatic/femoral radiculopathy disabilities, except for a 20% rating granted on and after November 8, 2017, for left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy and a 20% rating granted on and after November 8, 2016, for right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy. The Board also granted TDIU and DEA benefits effective February 9, 2011.

The Board remands the matter for further development, specifically to obtain an addendum opinion that properly follows its previous remand instructions.

The Board granted initial ratings of 30 percent, 40 percent, and 20 percent for dermatitis and tinea versicolor, lumbar spine disorder, and left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) respectively. The issues of service connection for rhinitis and sinusitis were remanded.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 60 percent prior to October 31, 2017, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability. The claims for increased ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy were remanded.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with lumbosacral spine spondylosis and lower extremity radiculopathy due to the need for a more current VA examination.

The veteran's appeal for effective dates of ratings and service connection was dismissed because the veteran requested to withdraw it.