Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with depressive disorder and alcohol abuse disorder is granted a 70 percent disability rating from June 8, 2019. Service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, left lower extremity, left upper extremity, and right upper extremity are all granted.

The Board denied service connection for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity as secondary to service-connected lumbosacral strain with scoliosis, finding no current disability and lack of recent diagnosis.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is rated at 10 percent, effective September 1, 2014. A separate rating of 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) is granted effective September 1, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment as a result of his PTSD, depression, or any other single service-connected disability. The Board denied entitlement to TDIU due to the Veteran's service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the merits is denied. The Board has remanded the issues of left and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings and service connection for various conditions was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating higher than 30 percent for her anxiety disorder, and did not find sufficient evidence to grant service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic headaches, or right lower extremity sciatic radicular pain.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for discontinuance of TDIU, reduction of disability rating for acquired psychiatric disorder, and reduction of disability rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity due to lack of response from the Veteran within the required timeframe.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for increased ratings and service connection due to lack of evidence showing increases in disability within a year prior to the claim date.,No new or material evidence was presented, and VA treatment records did not show severe symptoms warranting higher ratings.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve as of January 18, 2024. Additionally, it has granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Board finds that the issue of entitlement to a TDIU is moot due to the Veteran's combined 100% schedular rating, and thus, no ancillary benefits are warranted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a teeth disability, sciatica of the right lower extremity, and sciatica of the left lower extremity are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has denied service connection for neck, back, right hip, and left hip disabilities as well as athlete's foot. The diagnoses were not established during active duty or due to in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability, along with other disabilities, rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment as of April 1, 2020. She is granted a TDIU effective from that date.,Effective April 1, 2020, the Veteran also received SMC at the 's' rate due to having one service-connected disability rated as 100 percent disabling and additional disabilities independently rated at least 60 percent disabling.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis with abnormal curvature of the lumbar spine and left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, finding that there is no evidence to support a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right ankle ankylosis and knee replacements, have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since January 30, 2024. The Board has granted a TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were denied.,Both the lumbar spine condition and right lower extremity radiculopathy were rated at 40 percent, with no higher rating granted.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with anxious distress is granted as service-connected. The claims for right and left shoulder disabilities are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for left lower extremity radiculopathy involving the femoral and sciatic nerves are being remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Board has determined that the VA examiner's opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's obesity and its impact on his OSA is insufficient. The claim must be remanded to obtain an addendum opinion from another appropriate examiner.

The Veteran's appeal for left lower extremity paralysis of the sciatic nerve is dismissed. The AOJ issued a decision granting service connection for this condition effective from August 13, 2023. The Veteran's claim for prostate gland disability is remanded.