Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed conditions and their relationship to service. The claims include service connection for left calf, knee, lumbosacral spine, lower extremity radiculopathy, and any acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD.

The Board has remanded the issue of an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for major depressive disorder, but denied the TDIU claim as the Veteran was employed full-time prior to March 20, 2019.

The Board has denied service connection for left hip pain and right hip pain, but has remanded the issue of service connection for sciatica of the bilateral lower extremities due to a lack of adequate examination.

The Veteran's claims for IBS and GERD have been denied as they are not service-connected.,The Veteran's claim for lumbar radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities has been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as she withdrew her appeal for hidradenitis suppurativa, pigmentary retinal dystrophy, and carpal tunnel syndrome of the left hand. The case regarding carpal tunnel syndrome of the right hand is not addressed in this decision.

The Board has restored a 10 percent rating for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, external cutaneous nerve and granted special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities include PTSD, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathies, tinnitus, and a noncompensable rating for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, external cutaneous nerve. The Board found that the Veteran requires regular aid and assistance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection for urinary incontinence and loss of bowel control secondary to her low back disability is granted. The Veteran's low back disability, characterized as intervertebral disc syndrome, and right lower extremity radiculopathy are not rated higher than the current assigned ratings.

The Veteran's cervical spine fracture with spondylosis is rated at 30 percent since the initial rating decision, effective from May 6, 2014. Separate ratings of 20 percent are assigned for radiculopathy affecting the right and left upper extremities from May 6, 2014 to April 21, 2015.

The Veteran's initial increased ratings for his service-connected right and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been awarded effective October 5, 2021. The appeal is remanded due to a lack of compliance with prior remand directives regarding diagnostic testing.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity sciatica are currently rated at 10 percent prior to September 9, 2020 and 20 percent after that date. The Board denied a higher rating for the right and left lower extremity sciatica.,For the left lower extremity, the Veteran's disability is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board found no evidence of moderately severe incomplete paralysis, warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy has been granted a disability rating of 40 percent, but no greater.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed due to withdrawal. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for cervical spine, bilateral hand, and headache disorders.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings on his lumbar spine and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities are being remanded due to the need for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The evidence submitted since the final decisions did not relate to unestablished facts or raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The lumbar spine disability was rated at 40 percent, while the right lower extremity radiculopathy was rated at 10 percent prior to September 12, 2017, and 20 percent thereafter.

The Board has remanded all of the Veteran's claims due to new VA medical records being associated with his case and not reviewed by the AOJ. The Veteran was given a chance to respond, but did not do so.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions did not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, as well as his left knee disability, were not shown to be related to service. The Board denied these claims due to lack of evidence of a chronic condition in service or continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's total disability rating is due to VA treatment for his back disability, and he does not meet the basic eligibility criteria for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits.