Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for neck condition, back condition, and bilateral upper extremity cervical radiculopathy due to incomplete records. The Veteran's testimony indicates he began treatment in 2005, but VA treatment records are missing.

The Board has remanded multiple claims due to the need for additional medical examinations and records, including those related to service connection and disability ratings.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were dismissed. The Board granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and anal fistulotomy, both rated at 100%.

The Veteran's petition to reopen service connection for a tailbone fracture was denied. The claims for increased ratings of low back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and hemorrhoids were also denied. TDIU was denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, finding no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for service-connected disabilities is granted, and his increased rating claim for the lumbar spine disability prior to May 4, 2021, is remanded.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities, but denied both on the merits due to lack of evidence linking current disabilities to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic and femoral nerves were denied. The case was remanded for further development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back DDD and granted it. The claims for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy has been granted increased ratings of 20 percent each, effective March 30, 2017.,Effective March 30, 2017, the Veteran is also granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for service-connected traumatic brain injury, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for a make-up VA peripheral neuropathy examination. The TBI claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the radiculopathies.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity affecting the sciatic nerve is granted a 40 percent disability rating from December 1, 2020, to April 20, 2021. A higher rating is denied for this condition after that date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, left foot achilles tendonitis, left foot plantar fasciitis, and right foot metatarsalgia due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their onset during service or relationship to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's right wrist disability, specifically radial nerve peripheral neuropathy and cervical radiculopathy. The VA is required to obtain an addendum opinion from a neurologist to clarify these conditions.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's low back disability, including a higher rating and initial ratings for radiculopathy of the lower extremities and a neurogenic bladder disability. The Veteran is also seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of a separate compensable rating for his neurogenic bladder disability.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is rated at 40 percent effective August 1, 2022.,Ratings for right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy were denied prior to August 1, 2022. Ratings of 20 percent are granted beginning on August 1, 2022.,Ratings for right and left lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy were denied prior to August 1, 2022. Ratings of 20 percent are granted beginning on August 1, 2022.

The Board has dismissed all claims related to increased ratings and effective dates for various knee, back, and shoulder conditions due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, right upper extremity radiculopathy, migraines, left upper extremity radiculopathy, left shoulder slap tear, degenerative arthritis of cervical spine, left knee disability, TBI, tinnitus, asthma, and erectile dysfunction, rendered him unable to obtain and/or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from obtaining and maintaining such employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, type II (DM II), bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the legs, bilateral arm radiculopathy, and cervical spine (neck) disability due to inadequate medical opinions. The TDIU claim is also remanded.