Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The veteran's service connection claims for low back disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, lumbar radiculopathy, and sleep apnea were granted.

The Board denied service connection for bronchitis, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, and hearing loss. Other claims were remanded for further evaluation.

The veteran is granted a 20% disability rating for their left ankle condition effective May 3, 2016. Other issues related to carpel tunnel syndrome and cervical spine condition are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypotension were denied. Other issues related to various disabilities were dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been remanded. The Board will reconsider these claims after adjudicating a separate claim for lumbosacral strain.

The veteran is eligible for direct payment of attorney fees based on the May 2023 award of a 20 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss. The veteran is not eligible for direct payment of attorney fees based on the May 2023 awards of service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, back disability, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a disability rating higher than 10 percent for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity (RLE), sciatic nerve, before March 6, 2023. The decision was based on evidence showing mild symptoms.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings for sciatic radiculopathy were denied, but the claim for service connection of a neck condition was remanded.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for umbilical hernia was denied. Other issues related to service connection and disability ratings were remanded for further examination.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for several conditions were mixed. Some were granted, some denied, and one was remanded.

The appeal for a higher rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy was dismissed due to an administrative error where the same appeal was docketed twice.

The Board denied higher ratings for cervical spinal stenosis and PTSD, dismissed the appeal for right lower extremity radiculopathy as moot, and remanded decisions on GERD and hypertension. The claim for an earlier effective date for right upper extremity radiculopathy was also denied.

The veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities from December 28, 2003, to February 6, 2011.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since March 31, 2017. The Board remanded the issue of entitlement to a TDIU prior to March 31, 2017.

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for higher disability ratings and TDIU due to incomplete medical examinations.

The Board remanded all claims for service connection, including gastrointestinal disorder, asthma, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, left upper extremity radiculopathy secondary to cervical DDD, left wrist condition with pain, and left knee osteoarthritis. The Veteran will be afforded new VA examinations or medical opinions.

The veteran's appeal for higher ratings for several service-connected conditions was dismissed because the veteran withdrew the appeal and failed to appear for scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inconsistencies in medical evidence and need for clarification regarding the severity of his spinal conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and further development is required.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to one service-connected disability, finding that he was not rendered unemployable based on only one of his service-connected disabilities. The decision is binding only with respect to this specific matter and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability.