Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on need for aid and attendance, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), due to service-connected disabilities prior to January 22, 2019. The issues are being remanded for further development including obtaining additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations and consideration of his increased severity claims. The issues include ratings for chronic sinusitis, rhinitis, sleep apnea, lumbar strain and discogenic disease, lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee meniscectomy residuals with degenerative joint disease (DJD), left knee instability, and TDIU.

The Veteran's neck and low back disabilities are granted as service-connected, with the Board finding that there is at least a 50% likelihood that these conditions were caused by his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for an evaluation of the lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy, as well as a TDIU claim due to inadequate medical opinions from previous examinations. The Veteran's service-connected conditions are being reviewed with a focus on their severity prior to November 2019.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and thus his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for ratings in excess of 20 percent for left lower extremity and right lower extremity radiculopathy as the appellant withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with herniated nucleus pulposus, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to insufficient evidence in his claims file.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or maintaining gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, finding that the Veteran's current back condition is not causally related to her in-service injury and was more likely due to age-related degenerative changes.

The Veteran's claim for a rating greater than 30 percent for his service-connected cervical spine disability was remanded due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding functional loss during flare-ups and/or with repeated use.,An effective date earlier than February 23, 2009 is sought for the assignment of a separate compensable rating for left upper extremity radiculopathy. The Veteran's claim was received on February 23, 2009.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a right knee disability is granted. Service connection for tinnitus is also granted. The Board finds that the claims of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, intervertebral disc syndrome, scoliosis, and right sciatic radulopathy are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities and right foot bunions are also remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal through his representative.

The Board has granted service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy (RLER) associated with the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, effective September 8, 2014. The decision resolves all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding the reduction of disability ratings for low back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy as they were not ripe for appeal after the proposed reductions were implemented in a subsequent rating decision.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of January 26, 2000 for service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis, right knee strain with degenerative arthritis, left knee strain with degenerative arthritis, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, as his non-service-connected cataracts prevented him from securing or following such employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities. The issues include bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, bilateral ankle disability, and right leg sciatica.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and evaluation due to lack of recent VA examinations. The Veteran's lumbar spine and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities are being evaluated again.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain retrospective opinions regarding erectile dysfunction and neuropathy.

The Veteran's right lower extremity sciatica is granted as service connected, with the Board finding it likely caused by his service-connected lumbar spine DDD and cervical spine spondylosis. The other issues are remanded for further evaluation.