Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal, leaving no issues for the Board to consider.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is rated at 20 percent, and her radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is separately rated at 10 percent effective January 20, 2021. The Board denied an increased rating for the back disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, increased ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, due to insufficient evidence in the record. The issues have been returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, thus his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability is denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, but no higher.,The Veteran's left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are each rated at 40 percent, but no higher.

The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy, associated with lumbar degenerative disc disease and fibromyositis, is rated at 20 percent since April 25, 2014.

The Veteran was granted effective dates of January 1, 2014 for various disabilities including bilateral plantar fasciitis with bilateral calcaneal enthesopathy, left and right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain with arthritis, left elbow lateral and medial epicondylitis with arthritis, right elbow lateral and medial epicondylitis with arthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.,The effective dates were granted based on the Veteran's original claim filed in July 2013.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. His service-connected lumbar spine disability was rated at 20% from June 30, 2014 onwards, with a separate rating of 20% for LLE radiculopathy since March 6, 2018. The Veteran's combined ratings did not meet the threshold for TDIU under VA regulations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left foot arthritis, as well as bilateral pes planus (flat feet/pes planus), were denied. The claim for increased ratings for bilateral pes planus prior to August 17, 2020, was also denied.,For the lumbar spine disability, an increased rating beyond 40 percent was not granted due to lack of evidence of unfavorable ankylosis.

The Veteran's right leg radiculopathy is being remanded for another VA examination to assess the current severity and manifestations of his condition.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, effective October 30, 2019. The left lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 10 percent. The TDIU claim is denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy were evaluated. The lumbar spine disability was rated at 10% since November 1, 2009, and the left lower extremity radiculopathy was rated at 20% from November 1, 2015, through March 31, 2016, and 10% thereafter. The ratings were denied.

A 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain is granted effective July 13, 2015.,Ratings in excess of 10 percent for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are denied prior to June 20, 2019. A 20 percent rating is granted from June 20, 2019.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA medical opinions and private treatment records. The issues of a compensable rating for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, increased ratings for sciatic nerve neuropathy, and entitlement to TDIU are all pending.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability, including history of IVDS, is rated at 20% prior to June 1, 2017; 10% from June 1, 2017 to December 20, 2020; and no higher. The Veteran's service-connected radiculopathy, right lower extremity, is also rated at 20% prior to June 1, 2017; 10% from June 1, 2017 to December 20, 2020; and no higher.,The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability has been rated based on the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The Veteran's radiculopathy, right lower extremity, has been rated under the Formula for Rating IVDS Based on Incapacitating Episodes.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, effective December 20, 2018. The radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities are each rated at 10 and 20 percent respectively, also effective December 20, 2018.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for radiculopathy of the right leg is granted. The claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for radiculopathy of the left leg remains denied.

The Board has granted service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to a back disability. The issue of service connection for a left foot disability, including as secondary to service-connected disabilities, is remanded.

The Board dismissed all claims related to service connection and ratings for various conditions, including radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, osteoarthritis of the left knee, and degenerative arthritis of the right knee. The effective dates were also not granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for radiculopathy, sciatic nerve left lower extremity and right wrist sprain were denied. The claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with anterolistheses and spondylolysis was also denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for fibromyalgia and left lower extremity radiculopathy was denied. The Veteran also failed to meet the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.