Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied, with effective dates set at August 9, 2016.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's neurologic disability of the bilateral lower extremities, including sciatica, is related to her service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including other trauma and stressor related disorder, lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome, degenerative disc disease, degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, tinnitus, bilateral pes planus, bilateral hearing loss, dermatitis of the neck, and erectile dysfunction, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since September 17, 2016. The Veteran's combined service-connected rating was 80 percent at that time. Basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 is established as of September 17, 2016.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left L4 radiculopathy, herniated nucleus pulposus L4-5, and desiccation and degeneration L4 to S1, finding that these conditions had their onset during active service.

The Veteran's effective date for the increased rating of 40 percent assigned to his back disability and for the separate evaluations assigned to his bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy is set at November 16, 2017.

The Board denied higher ratings for the Veteran's cervical spine disability and associated radiculopathies, finding that the evidence did not support a rating higher than 20 percent for the cervical spine disability or any higher rating for LUE radiculopathy.

The Board has denied service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy and left knee disorder as the evidence does not show a current disability of either condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate October 2018 VA examination and requests for new evidence, including treatment records. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination to determine current severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to incomplete compliance with prior remand directives and need for new VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for his service-connected thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease, sciatic radiculopathy of the lower extremities, and femoral nerve radiculopathy have been granted.,Effective January 14, 2021, the Veteran is assigned a disability rating of 40 percent for thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease. Effective January 14, 2021, he is also granted TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development, and did not make a decision on service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is granted with an effective date of November 1, 2009. Service connection for colitis is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are now pending before the Board. The VA will provide further examinations to determine if he has current diagnoses of these conditions, which may be related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine disability and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy due to incomplete development in prior examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient opinions regarding his sleep apnea, back condition, acquired psychiatric disorder, and respiratory condition. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic and femoral nerves have been granted initial 20 percent ratings.

An increased rating of 60 percent for coronary artery disease is granted from December 6, 2011.,Service connection for a skin condition (fibromatous type changes and keloid) is granted. The Veteran's current disability includes bilateral cataracts and glaucoma secondary to diabetes mellitus.,PTSD claim dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.,Bilateral hearing loss claim dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.,Service connection for bilateral cataracts, bilateral glaucoma, kidney infection, bilateral shoulder pain, bilateral knee pain, bilateral ankle pain, obstructive sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and lower back pain is remanded. Service connection for sciatica is also remanded.,An increased rating for diabetes mellitus secondary to cataracts and glaucoma is remanded.,Service connection for kidney infection is remanded.,Service connection for bilateral shoulder pain is remanded.,Service connection for bilateral knee pain is remanded.,Service connection for bilateral ankle pain is remanded.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities is remanded.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is remanded.,Service connection for lower back pain is remanded.,Service connection for sciatica is remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar spondylosis with IVDS and associated radiculopathies have been granted initial disability ratings from October 15, 2008 to September 23, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left upper extremity radiculopathy were denied as the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Veteran's IVDS is rated at 40 percent, effective from the date of the decision.,The Veteran's paralysis of the sciatic nerve (left lower extremity) and right lower extremity are both rated at 20 percent.