Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy are all rated at the lowest possible level (20%) due to lack of evidence showing more than mild impairment. The scars from her cervical fusion surgery are also rated at 20%.

The Veteran's service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted a rating of 40 percent effective December 22, 2011. The claim for TDIU has been denied.

The Veteran received a 20% rating for his low back disability from July 10, 2006. The higher ratings are denied prior to July 1, 2020 and after that date.,A 20% rating is granted for left lower extremity radiculopathy effective from July 1, 2020.

A 20 percent rating for service-connected left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted from June 6, 2013 to December 12, 2014.,A rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected left lower extremity radiculopathy is denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is rated at 40 percent since March 21, 2014. Ratings in excess of 20 percent for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are denied.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for right upper extremity radiculopathy has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and ratings for her bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as her TDIU claim due to worsening of her service-connected disabilities. The RO is instructed to address the CUE in the original rating decisions and provide a statement of the case on these issues.

The Veteran's lumbar strain disability is granted at a 20 percent evaluation from September 23, 2010 to February 27, 2020 and denied for evaluations in excess of that. The right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy are both denied initial evaluations in excess of 10 percent. The Veteran's limitation of flexion of the left knee is restored from a noncompensable to a 10 percent evaluation, but his limitation of extension of the left leg remains denied. The instability of the left knee is granted at a 20 percent evaluation beginning April 3, 2018.

The Board has denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and sciatica of the bilateral lower extremities as secondary to a service-connected disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment since May 31, 2017. The Board has granted a TDIU from that date onward but has remanded the issue of whether he was unemployable prior to May 31, 2017 for further review.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for chemical poisoning, anxiety and PTSD, heart attack and a heart stent, hypertension, prostate cancer, low back injury with posttraumatic degenerative changes, left lower extremity radiculopathy, irritant dermatitis, gout in the right foot, and left shoulder acromioclavicular separation status post-operative. The Veteran is not service-connected for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his left shoulder disability and entitlement to TDIU prior to September 15, 2016 were both denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increased rating or TDIU based on service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings of lumbar spondylosis and right lower extremity radiculopathy, resulting in the dismissal of these claims.

The Veteran requested withdrawal of all appeals related to his claims for increased ratings and service connection. The Board has dismissed these appeals as the Veteran explicitly requested their withdrawal.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals seeking earlier effective dates for his service-connected lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathy ratings, as well as his requests for higher rating decisions. The appeal was also remanded for further development regarding a TDIU claim.

The Board has found that the Veteran's lumbar spine and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy require additional examination to determine their current severity. The case is therefore being remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's degenerative changes of L5-S1 with spondylosis of the lumbar spine resulted in a rating higher than 20 percent prior to May 14, 2012. Beginning June 1, 2007, he was granted a separate 10 percent rating for right lumbar radiculopathy.,Effective from May 14, 2012, the Veteran was granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as of October 2, 1998.,An extraschedular rating for esophagitis and gastritis is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at 60% from December 9, 2019. The Board found that the Veteran was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.