Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran was not precluded from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities prior to February 10, 2020.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremities radiculopathy due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, as there are conflicting diagnoses in the Veteran's VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, resulting in a TDIU from October 23, 2018. His right and left lower extremity radiculopathies are rated at 20 percent each.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations, particularly regarding the severity of his cervical strain and right upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), right ankle sprain, and lower extremity radiculopathy associated with IVDS are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Veteran's left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are now rated at 20 percent effective August 13, 2021. The lumbar spine strain is also remanded for further review.

The Veteran withdrew all his claims before a decision was made by the Board.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision on his claims for increased ratings and effective dates for service connection of right and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of the spine and herniated discs, have prevented him from participating in substantially gainful employment since September 29, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claims for a compensable disability rating for migraine headaches and an initial compensable rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity are remanded, as well as the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to March 17, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU, and there is no evidence showing he is unemployable solely due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy was granted a 20% evaluation effective May 13, 2021. The Board found the evidence in equipoise that his left lower extremity radiculopathy warranted a 20% rating since September 5, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his lumbar spine disability, associated radiculopathy, and bilateral ankle disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability, right upper extremity disability, left upper extremity disability, right lower extremity disability, and left lower extremity disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the claims for bilateral knee disorder, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy must be remanded due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability and related conditions is dismissed. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection, TDIU, and secondary service connection.

The Board denied service connection for left knee condition, back condition, and bilateral lower extremities sciatica as there is no evidence of current disabilities or impairment related to these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations to determine the nature and etiology of her sleep apnea, right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, and cervical spine disability. The rating reduction from 10 percent to noncompensable for left lower extremity radiculopathy was improper.

The Veteran's electric wheelchair, prescribed for his service-connected spinal condition, is found to cause wear and tear on his clothing. The Board grants an annual clothing allowance for the year 2021.