Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right lower extremity neurologic and/or orthopedic condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy and a rating in excess of 20 percent for his lumbar spine disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support these claims.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine, lower extremity radiculopathy, and PTSD are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development.

The Veteran's increased rating for arthritis of the lumbar spine is denied.,Rating in excess of 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy prior to May 16, 2017 and in excess of 20 percent thereafter is denied.,Compensable rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve) prior to December 12, 2016 and in excess of 30 percent thereafter is denied.,Compensable rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve) prior to October 27, 2020 and in excess of 20 percent thereafter is denied.,The Veteran's entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is granted.

The Veteran's lumbar spine DDD with sciatic neuropathy was granted a single 60 percent initial rating prior to February 27, 2018. From that date onwards, separate 40 percent ratings were granted for right and left lower extremity sciatica.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions did not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine condition and bilateral radiculopathy, which are believed to be related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar strain, sciatic nerve paralysis (left lower extremity radiculopathy), left knee chondromalacia, and right knee chondromalacia are being remanded due to procedural issues with the medical opinions provided in previous examinations.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities from February 1, 2005.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to outstanding VA treatment records, incomplete examination reports, and the need for additional examinations. The issues are inextricably intertwined.

Your right lower extremity radiculopathy claim has been dismissed as the Veteran opted into the modernized review system (AMA). The Board does not have jurisdiction to address this issue further.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary to properly evaluate the Veteran's service-connected chronic lumbar strain and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, including assessing the severity of flare-ups.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or maintain substantial gainful employment, as evidenced by his continued full-time employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to physical limitations.

The Board has granted service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, sinusitis, headaches, acid reflux, esophagitis, thyroid, and abdominal hernia have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew her appeal.,Service connection has been granted for lumbar spine DDD, sciatica of the bilateral lower extremities, left hip osteoarthritis, and bilateral knee osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his service-connected complex regional pain syndrome involving the sciatic nerve, LLE was granted. The claim for an increased rating for his saphenous nerve disability remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the old or new rating criteria.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for his back disability, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within one year after discharge. The current disability is not related to any in-service injury.