Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeals for earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathies. The Board dismissed these appeals as per the Veteran's request.

The Veteran's right knee condition has been rated at 10 percent, and the Board is remanding this issue for further development. Additionally, earlier effective dates are being sought for TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits.

The Veteran's left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy is manifested by moderate incomplete paralysis, and the Board has granted an initial rating of 20 percent disabling.

The Veteran's current back disability, including lumbosacral strain, sacroiliac injury, sacroiliac weakness, and bilateral radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, is directly related to his in-service April 1988 motor vehicle accident. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have radiculopathy of the left lower extremity and therefore denied her claim for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error in not rescheduling her examinations, and is directing the AOJ to obtain medical opinions regarding the severity of her disabilities during the relevant period on appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for an earlier effective date for service connection of radiculopathy, left and right lower extremities, as well as TDIU.,It was determined that the claims were not filed within one year prior to October 13, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and SMC were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support earlier effective dates, as there was no showing of total occupational and social impairment prior to January 14, 2021.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to October 19, 2019 are remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the competency of a VA examiner.,The Veteran's claims for disability ratings in excess of those granted are also remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the competency of a VA examiner.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities due to a lack of adequate evaluation in the previous VA examination. A new VA examination is required to determine the severity of these conditions.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection and a higher initial rating, but granted the Veteran's request for a 20 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) prior to December 11, 2020.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 26, 2016 for service connection for a lumbar spine disability. The appeal was found to be final due to lack of timely submission and new and material evidence.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of June 21, 2018 for the Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy (neuritis), finding that these conditions were secondary to his service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, and back disabilities. The Veteran's right leg disability was considered in conjunction with the back disability.,There is no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after active duty that could be presumed due to exposure to Agent Orange or Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's migraine/tension headaches are granted as service-connected, with effective date of November 20, 2024.,Service connection for degenerative joint disease and strain of the thoracolumbar spine is granted, effective September 10, 2015. The earlier effective date claim is denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral pes planus, plantar fasciitis, cervical strain, lumbosacral strain, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, left and right hip strains, left and right knee conditions, and tinnitus have been granted. The Veteran is also assigned a 10 percent rating for each of the affected limbs.

The Veteran withdrew all appeals before the Board, including those for earlier effective dates and ratings for radiculopathy of various upper and lower extremities. As a result, the appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve is granted an initial 20 percent rating, but no higher. The left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve remains at a 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity have been granted service connection.,A TDIU before December 6, 2018, is still pending as it is inextricably intertwined with the ratings for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and hypertension, finding that additional development is needed to obtain relevant medical records and provide an adequate opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions. The issues remain on appeal as the PACT Act of 2022 does not apply to all periods of the Veteran's claim.