Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to inadequate development following a previous Board remand. The issues of rating his RLE neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome and sciatic nerve radiculopathy, bilateral shoulder scars, and neck disability are all being reconsidered.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine osteoarthritis and right lower extremity radiculopathy, secondary to service-connected lumbar spine osteoarthritis. The decision is based on the Veteran's reports of back pain since service and subsequent medical records supporting a continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for migraine headaches and an earlier effective date for service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy was denied. The Board found that the current schedular ratings adequately considered her symptoms, and there were no grounds for revision on the grounds of clear and unmistakable error.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted a rating of 20 percent prior to July 16, 2021.,A rating in excess of 20 percent from July 16, 2021 onward for the Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral foot disabilities, including arthritis and radiculopathy, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to address the Veteran's lay statements.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to new evidence and a need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to conflicting opinions regarding his spine and radiculopathy disabilities, as well as his need for aid and attendance. The issues are intertwined and must be addressed together.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) of the lumbar spine, left lumbar radiculopathy, and left lower extremity sciatic and femoral radiculopathies. The issues include seeking higher ratings for these conditions as well as a TDIU determination. Additional development is needed to obtain medical records and conduct examinations to assess the current severity of the Veteran's disabilities.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of September 9, 1978, for the grant of service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity and increased ratings to 40 percent for thoracolumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremities radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity sciatic neuropathy, and left lower extremity sciatic neuropathy were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the current manifestations of the disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and consideration due to inadequacies in previous examinations and new evidence provided by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records, including those from private providers. The VA will obtain these records and then readjudicate the claims.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and to obtain medical records. The issues of entitlement to service connection are related to the severity of his service-connected disabilities, including lumbosacral strain, eczema, scarring alopecia, PFB, right lower extremity radiculopathy, hypertension, left elbow condition, and right elbow condition.

The Board has found the reduction of ratings for thoracolumbar spine disability and associated bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy to be improper, and has ordered their restoration. The Veteran's claims for higher ratings remain pending.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of his right knee condition, and the Board dismissed the appeal due to this withdrawal.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease and herniated nucleus pulposus with left L5 nerve root compression is rated at 40 percent from June 7, 2017. A separate 20 percent rating is granted for left lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy since March 16, 2015.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy has been dismissed because the Veteran withdrew their appeal before a decision was made.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches has been granted. The Board finds that the Veteran experienced chronic symptoms of migraines since her separation from service, and there is sufficient evidence to establish continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and cervical radiculopathy due to a lack of adequate medical opinions regarding whether these conditions were aggravated by her military service.