Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to deficiencies in the medical opinions provided. The claims are related to skin disorders, lumbar spine disorders, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of various upper and lower extremities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU based on his service-connected back disability prior to January 15, 2010.,Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits were also granted for the period from December 30, 2005 to June 2, 2008.

The Board has vacated its decision and dismissed the appeals for TDIU prior to January 15, 2010 and DEA benefits prior to June 2, 2008 due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral spine disability, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatica), and an increased rating for thoracic spine vertebral compression fractures. The Veteran's TDIU claim was also denied.,Service connection could not be established as the evidence did not show a link between the disabilities and service.

The Board has granted effective dates of March 18, 2009 for the right and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's combination of service-connected disabilities required care and assistance on a regular basis to dress herself, prepare meals, keep herself clean and presentable, attend to the wants of nature, and protect her from the hazards or dangers inherent in her daily environment. As such, she is granted special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy were denied as the evidence did not show that he met the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's service connection claims for RLE and LLE radiculopathy are granted as secondary to his service-connected DDD of the lumbar spine.,The Veteran's service connection claim for GERD is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's disc bulge of the thoracolumbar spine and right lower extremity radiculopathy are rated at 20 percent each, effective from specific dates. The rating is based on the severity of symptoms and functional impairment.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of PTSD, ischemic optic neuropathy, coronary artery disease, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity have been dismissed as withdrawn.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an anxiety disorder has also been dismissed as withdrawn.,Beginning May 18, 2018, the Veteran is in receipt of a total schedular rating due to his service-connected disabilities. The issue of entitlement to TDIU beginning May 18, 2018, was dismissed as moot.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability and radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, finding that there is no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of February 1, 2017 for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus and related diabetic neuropathies of both upper and lower extremities.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy and a TDIU prior to March 2, 2017 are being remanded due to the need for additional development including scheduling of a VA examination and obtaining relevant private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the cases due to uncertainty regarding whether the Veteran is deceased. The cases will be returned for further review if he is still alive.

The Veteran's lower back disability, bilateral upper and lower extremity radiculopathy, and headaches have been granted service connection. A 50% rating has also been assigned for the Veteran's tension headaches.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability does not render him unemployable, as he has maintained employment in his field of construction despite the pain and limitations caused by his condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds no legal basis for a higher rating.,The Veteran's service-connected hypertension and ED are not service connected. The RO is instructed to obtain medical opinions addressing whether these conditions were incurred in service or caused by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are granted service connection. The rating reduction for postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome is remanded, as well as the effective date determination.

Your service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity has been granted, but it is secondary to your already service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability. The effective date remains pending as per the June 2021 rating decision.