Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and clarification of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as lumbosacral strain with degenerative spurring L1 and L2. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability claim is also being remanded due to incomplete records from University of Utah Health Care.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including old compression fracture with degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and left lower extremity radiculopathy, are being remanded for further development to determine their current severity.

The Veteran's neurogenic bladder was granted a 20 percent rating prior to August 21, 2012 and a 60 percent rating from August 21, 2012 to October 17, 2019. From October 17, 2019, the Veteran's neurogenic bladder was denied any higher ratings.,The Veteran's sciatic nerve neuropathy of both lower extremities were granted initial ratings of 40 percent each.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of lumbar disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome and sciatic radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his sciatic radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is also remanded. Additionally, the issue of entitlement to TDIU prior to October 8, 2018 remains on appeal.

The Board found that the severance of service connection for right lower extremity and left lower extremity radiculopathy was improper, as there is conflicting evidence regarding the diagnosis.,A remand has been ordered to obtain VA examinations for the Veteran's right wrist and left knee disabilities. The effective date for a 10 percent rating for right wrist degenerative joint disease must also be determined.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a TDIU are being remanded due to the need for further development, including referral of his TDIU claim for extraschedular consideration prior to March 15, 2017.

The Veteran's loss of balance is due to his service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome, degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral strain, degenerative disc disease, facet arthropathy and L2-L5 laminectomy, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral lower extremity sciatic nerve paralysis with radiculopathy and neuropathy. The Board granted service connection for loss of balance.

A disability rating of 20 percent, but no higher, for the service-connected dorsal lumbar paravertebral myositis with bulging discs L4-5 and L5-S1, and degenerative joint disease (DJD) L5-S1 apophyseal joints was granted.,A disability rating of 20 percent, but no higher, for the service-connected lumbar myositis with bulging discs and DJD was granted from September 23, 2001 to July 17, 2013.,A disability rating of 40 percent, but no higher, for the service-connected lumbar myositis with bulging discs and DJD was granted from July 17, 2013 to November 20, 2020.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hearing loss was withdrawn by the Veteran during his hearing before the Board.,Service connection is granted for cystic acne, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a low back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right knee disability. Service connection is denied for a right ankle disability.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and increased ratings for cervical spine and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy disabilities prior to the promulgation of this decision.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of May 31, 2009, for the award of service connection for lumbar radiculopathy, sciatic nerve of the right lower extremity, is granted. The claim for an earlier effective date for the left lower extremity is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The conditions are related to in-service injuries or diseases.

The Veteran's right and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathies were granted a 20 percent rating from July 3, 2013 to May 3, 2015. The lower extremities' sciatic nerve peripheral neuropathy was also granted a 20 percent rating during this period. However, the Veteran's right and left lower extremity femoral nerve peripheral neuropathies were denied higher ratings from May 4, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran's sleep disturbance is already considered in his service-connected major depressive disorder, and there are no separate sleep disabilities capable of service connection.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of September 23, 2002 for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities and denied earlier effective dates for reactive airway disease, residual of pneumothorax.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the service connection claims for ischemic heart disease, plaque psoriasis, hypogonadism with low testosterone, psoriatic joint pain, hypertension, sciatic nerve pain, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The AOJ should consider all evidence of record in this supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of May 31, 2006 for the grant of a 20 percent rating each for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome with spondylolisthesis and left lower extremity radiculopathy were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent for his IVDS prior to October 24, 2019, or from October 24, 2019.