Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, and left knee disabilities have been granted service connection. The remaining issues of radiculopathy of the upper and lower extremities as well as right shoulder strain and right knee arthritis with chondromalacia are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction, low back arthritis, and bilateral lower extremity sciatica as secondary to service-connected disabilities. Service connection for ischemic heart disease (IHD) and hypertension have been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disability, sciatica, and partial acromioclavicular joint separation of the right shoulder. Bilateral foot disability is denied.,Secondary service connection was also granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities and femoral radiculopathy of the left lower extremity are currently rated at 20 percent from December 21, 2016. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating for these conditions.,The Veteran's lumbar spine strain with disc herniation was rated at 20 percent from December 21, 2016 to March 24, 2020 and granted a 40 percent rating starting from March 24, 2020.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability for the period prior to June 29, 2016 due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed for the issue of increased rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease. The claim for service connection for seizures has been reopened, but further examination and opinion are needed to determine its etiology. Other issues remain pending.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as the evidence does not show he was unemployable at the time of the January 2020 rating decision.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left biceps femoris strain does not warrant a compensable disability rating, and his TDIU claim is denied. The lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome and bilateral paravertebral muscular strain, as well as sciatica of the lower extremities, are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates to establish service connection for thoracolumbar degenerative arthritis of the spine, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral feet disabilities were denied as there was no CUE in the March 2007 rating decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective date issues related to his service-connected herniated disc, lumbar spine are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his increased rating of 40 percent for service-connected herniated disc, lumbar spine is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the issue of a higher rating.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial ratings related to his degenerative disc disease, cervical spine are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for radiculopathy, middle radicular group, left upper extremity is being remanded as it requires additional development of his medical records.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, left lower extremity is also being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's back and left lower extremity flare-ups.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings have been withdrawn, and the cases are dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for right upper and lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes due to IVDS, and thus, the Veteran's service-connected back condition does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent. Similarly, his right and left lower extremity radiculopathies were rated as moderate based on the provided evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy now meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU. However, his employment history during the appeal period is unclear due to conflicting information provided by the Veteran. The Board has ordered additional development to clarify his employment status.

The Board denied the appellant's request for an effective date earlier than December 12, 2017, for awards of service connection for cervical spine degenerative arthritis and bilateral upper and lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, lumbar spine disability (degenerative arthritis), bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, left thigh varicosities, right thigh varicosities, and tinnitus, are sufficiently severe to render him unable to maintain any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background. As such, a TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease, hypertension with cardiomyopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy are all granted. The Veteran is also entitled to SMC at the housebound rate due to his multiple service-connected disabilities. Service connection for a right eye cataract remains pending.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities have been granted effective from November 27, 2017.,Effective from November 6, 2019, the Veteran's service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy was granted.