Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and will attempt to obtain NROTC service or participation records. The appellant seeks service-connected disability compensation related to injuries sustained during military indoctrination training.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for varicocele, hypogonadism, and sperm disorders as secondary to medications for service-connected lumbar spine IVDS.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn or dismissed. The Board has found that the Veteran's PTSD, urinary incontinence, and degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine meet the criteria for increased ratings but requires further development before these claims can be adjudicated.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn, and all issues on appeal are dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease.

The Board has granted a TDIU effective November 2, 2016. However, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU prior to that date. The case is remanded for referral to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a TDIU from December 18, 2018. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to December 18, 2018 is remanded for referral to the Director of Compensation Service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar strain prior to August 5, 2020 and in excess of 40 percent thereafter was denied.,The Veteran's claim for entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was also denied due to the lack of a completed VA Form 21-8940.

The Veteran's OSA is granted as secondary to weight gain caused by his service-connected psychiatric and musculoskeletal disabilities. The other issues remain denied.

Service connection is granted for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, axonal polyneuropathy and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and axonal polyneuropathy and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.,An effective date earlier than January 6, 2012 is denied for service connection for bilateral pes cavus with hallux valgus and metatarsalgia of both feet, degenerative arthritis of both feet, and bilateral weak feet.

The Veteran's low back condition resulted in a combined range of motion of 230 degrees prior to December 5, 2013. From that date, the Veteran's functional impairment limited his forward flexion to 30 degrees or less.,The Veteran is entitled to an initial rating of 40 percent for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity sciatic nerve and a separate rating of 40 percent for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity sciatic nerve.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and rating considerations due to the need for clarification of his service-connected bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to December 8, 2018. Therefore, the claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not support higher disability ratings for his radiculopathy of the femoral nerves and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine with IVDS.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a pulmonary nodule and multiple lower extremity radiculopathies, have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since October 3, 2017. His TDIU claim is granted.

The Board denied higher ratings for IVDD of the lumbar spine, LLE radiculopathy, and RLE peripheral neuropathy. The Veteran's conditions were found not to meet criteria for a higher rating based on ankylosis or other specific findings.

For the period on appeal prior to March 4, 2011, a rating in excess of 20 percent for right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy is denied.,For the period on appeal prior to October 30, 2014, a rating in excess of 20 percent for left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back disability, cervical spine disability (including as secondary to a low back disability), left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to conflicting medical opinions regarding their onset and relationship to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU prior to March 31, 2018 and there is insufficient evidence to substantiate a reasonable possibility that he was unemployable by reason of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a separate 10 percent disability rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy, associated with lumbosacral strain, is granted effective November 5, 2011.