Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability and bilateral lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy were denied in a November 2009 rating decision. The effective date of the denial is June 17, 2015, as this was when the Veteran filed his intent to reopen the claim.

The Board has granted a TDIU as of May 10, 2021, due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preventing him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The appeal of the TMJ disability issue is dismissed.,A 20% rating, but no higher, for cervical degenerative disc disease from April 27, 2010 to September 9, 2020 is granted. A rating in excess of 20% for cervical degenerative disc disease from September 10, 2020 to February 4, 2021 and a rating in excess of 30% since February 5, 2021 are denied.,A 20% rating, but no higher, for lumbar degenerative disc disease from October 13, 2017 to December 13, 2020 is granted. A rating in excess of 40% since February 5, 2021 is denied.,A separate 10% rating, but no higher, for left knee degenerative joint disease based on recurrent lateral instability since April 27, 2010 is granted. A rating in excess of 10% for right upper extremity radiculopathy from April 27, 2010 to August 3, 2017 and a separate 20% rating for left upper extremity radiculopathy since August 4, 2017 are granted. A rating in excess of 10% for right lower extremity radiculopathy from April 27, 2010 to August 3, 2017 and a separate 20% rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy since August 4, 2017 are denied. A 40% rating, but no higher, for right upper extremity radiculopathy from August 4, 2017 to February 4, 2021 is granted and a separate 30% rating for left upper extremity radiculopathy since August 4, 2017 is granted. A 20% rating, but no higher, for right lower extremity radiculopathy from August 4, 2017 to February 4, 2021 and a separate 20% rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy since August 4, 2017 are granted. A rating in excess of 40% for right upper extremity radiculopathy since February 5, 2021 is denied and a rating in excess of 30% for left upper extremity radiculopathy since February 5, 2021 is denied.,A separate noncompensable rating, but no higher, for erectile dysfunction since April 27, 2010 is granted. A TDIU from April 27, 2010 through August 12, 2019 is granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations for his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's hip disabilities, as well as his radiculopathy and neuralgia. The Veteran is also seeking increased ratings for these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including sinusitis, lumbar spine disorder, cervical strain, radiculopathy of the left arm, cerebral palsy, arteriosclerotic heart disease, hypertension, and a left elbow disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for obtaining additional private treatment records from Wright Patterson Air Force Base since October 2014. The Veteran is seeking increased ratings for lumbar intervertebral disc disease and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral radiculopathy of the upper and lower extremities, nor is there any evidence to suggest such conditions began during service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,The Board also found no relationship between the Veteran's bilateral hip disability and active service or service-connected disabilities. The examiner opined that the current diagnosis of bilateral iliopsoas tendonitis is less likely due to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied across multiple conditions, including right lower leg scars, left knee strain and instability, low back pain, right common peroneal nerve injury, and sciatic nerve radiculopathy. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left and right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, as well as an increased rating for cervical degenerative disc disease, were granted. The low back impairment claim was remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 60 percent, and a separate rating for his right lower extremity radiculopathy is denied. The claim for a higher rating for the lumbar spine disability is also denied.

The Veteran's low back disability and sciatic nerve pain are rated at 20 percent before May 24, 2019. From that date, the rating is increased to 40 percent for both conditions.,Neck disability was initially rated at 20 percent before May 18, 2021 and then increased to 30 percent from that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his service-connected DDD and lower extremity radiculopathies require additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of these conditions.

The Board dismissed the appeal of the denial of service connection for a right leg disability, other than right lower extremity radiculopathy due to the appellant's withdrawal.

The Veteran's service-connected low back injury with degenerative changes and left lower extremity radiculopathy rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, leading to a grant of TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50% effective March 29, 2018. The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for PTSD and is currently considering a TDIU claim based on his migraines and other disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine condition and right lower extremity radiculopathy were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of the current assigned ratings.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were granted, with a rating of 20 percent effective January 20, 2012.,An earlier effective date of January 20, 2012 was denied for the award of 20 percent ratings for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back disorder and left leg radiculopathy due to conflicting medical opinions and incomplete factual information. The Veteran's active duty service records show treatment for lower back pain, but a VA examiner based their negative opinion on inaccurate facts.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral leg and hip conditions, including radiculopathy, is being remanded due to the need for additional development. The claims are related to secondary service connection.