Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for referral to Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular TDIU consideration prior to September 3, 2015. The Veteran's TDIU was granted on September 3, 2015.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including those related to exposure at Camp Lejeune. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her right ankle, left knee, flat feet, thoracolumbar strain (back condition), and sciatic radiculopathy of the right lower extremity have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board denied an increased rating greater than 20 percent.,The Veteran was granted a 20 percent initial rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity (femoral nerve) and a 10 percent initial rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity (sciatic nerve).,The Board denied an increased rating greater than 20 percent for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity (sciatic nerve), finding that it more nearly approximated moderate paralysis.

The Board has remanded the issue of TDIU prior to October 26, 2016 due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for left and right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy as they were not properly before the Board in the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) system.

The Veteran's chronic pain syndrome and left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy are granted service connection. The right hip disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, are being reviewed again.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been dismissed as the appeal was withdrawn by the Veteran through his authorized representative.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for postoperative scar, lumbar spine and lumbar radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran's postoperative scar did not meet criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7805. For his lumbar radiculopathy, the Board determined that the evidence did not support ratings higher than 40 percent after January 28, 2021.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for gout, PTSD, right knee disability, left knee disability, erectile dysfunction, and higher ratings for lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, and residuals of TBI have all been denied. The Board found that there was no evidence linking any current conditions to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and multiple radiculopathies, have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment since March 9, 2017.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent since November 13, 2006 and higher ratings are denied.,Separate 40 percent ratings for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted effective June 3, 2011, with even higher 60 percent ratings since May 20, 2015.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that he does not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's cervical spine, right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, and headaches have been granted service connection. However, the low back disability remains under review due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than April 10, 2018 for the grant of service connection for various conditions have been denied.,Effective dates cannot be established before the date of separation from active duty or the date entitlement arose if within one year.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to incomplete or insufficient examinations, and because the issues are inextricably intertwined with the cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including end-stage renal disease and peripheral neuropathy, have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment since April 13, 2010. The Board has granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Veteran's appeals for the reduction of his migraine headaches disability rating, reopening service connection claims for various conditions, and for service connection for certain lung issues have been withdrawn by his attorney.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine DDD is granted a 40 percent rating, but no higher. The Veteran's service-connected left lower extremity radiculopathy with nerve impingement (LLE radiculopathy) is denied any increase in rating.