Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's service connection claims for psychiatric disorders, cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, sciatic nerve disorder, right knee disorder, and hepatitis C have all been denied as the evidence does not support a finding of in-service onset or etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for a neck disability and a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right and left upper extremity radiculopathy, lumbosacral strain, cervical spine disability with degenerative disc disease, and bone spur removal from the left foot, are being remanded for further evaluation due to recent worsening of symptoms.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal before the Board could make a decision on the merits of her claims.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 40 percent effective November 8, 2011. From December 20, 2019, the rating for his back disability was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. Effective December 21, 2020, he received ratings of 20 percent for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since July 24, 2013.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, tension headaches, lumbar strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, right knee strain, and hearing loss, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been rated at 40 percent, but the Board found that it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of unfavorable ankylosis.,For his right and left lower extremity radiculopathy prior to March 25, 2019, the Veteran was rated at 10 percent and 20 percent respectively. The Board found that these ratings did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to the severity of his symptoms.

The Board dismissed all issues related to service connection and new and material evidence claims due to the Veteran's death. The appeal is dismissed without prejudice.

The Board denied service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses did not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of a current disability or causal relationship.

The Veteran's knee disabilities are remanded for further development.,The Veteran's foot disabilities are remanded for further development.,The Veteran's bilateral hallux valgus is remanded for further development.,The Veteran's hearing loss and dizziness claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or service connection in all cases.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, and acquired psychiatric disorder are all granted service connection. The Board found that the Veteran had a current diagnosis of these conditions and there was sufficient evidence to establish a link between his active duty service and each condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities combined to prevent him from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment from December 24, 2014, to March 21, 2021. The Board granted a TDIU for this period.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for service connection and initial ratings for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine with disc herniation at L4-5 and L5-S1, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations in the record are inadequate for rating purposes and remanded the claims for additional development, including obtaining all outstanding records of VA and private evaluation and/or treatment. The Veteran should be provided an opportunity to report for a VA examination to ascertain the current severity and functional limitations associated with his lumbar radiculopathy disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and radiculopathy of the lower extremities, as well as his claim for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for left foot pes planus, right foot pes planus, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and left lower extremity radiculopathy have all been granted. The claim for tingling and poor circulation, left leg, has been reopened.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected back condition, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and bladder condition are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.,Specifically, a retrospective opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's back condition from February 2013 to current is needed. An addendum opinion regarding the symptomatology associated with his bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy is also required.