Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected back disability. The Veteran requires assistance with activities of daily living, including bathing, dressing, and preparing meals.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is currently rated at 20 percent, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it only manifests as moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to lack of causation, as the Veteran's current cervical stenosis and radiculopathy were not caused by VA carelessness or negligence.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 30 percent, and the Board has remanded for further development regarding left and right upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's combined disability rating prior to October 27, 2016 was 80 percent. The Board found that the schedular requirements for a TDIU were met due to his service-connected conditions, but he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to incomplete medical opinions and other issues. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, spine disabilities, and bilateral leg numbness are all being reviewed again.

The Board has decided to remand three issues: the rating for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, the rating for lumbar DDD, and service connection for a respiratory disability other than allergic rhinitis. The Veteran will need additional examinations and evidence to determine these matters.

Your service connection claims for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and lumbar spine radiculopathy with bilateral sciatic nerve involvement have been granted. The appeal is dismissed as these issues are no longer in dispute.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy are granted service connection. The right knee MCL laxity is denied.,TDIU benefits for service-connected disabilities are granted from October 7, 2012.

The Veteran's cervical spine DJD, cervical muscle spasm, and cervical facet joint syndrome with right and left upper extremity radiculopathy are granted service connection. A 50 percent rating is granted for tension type headaches since September 25, 2013.

The Board has remanded the case due to challenges raised by the Veteran regarding the qualifications of the VA examiners who provided opinions on sleep apnea. The AOJ is required to obtain and provide information about the credentials of these examiners.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left and right lumbar radiculopathy and vertigo due to complications with his diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities necessitate the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, thus entitling him to special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance. The issue of SMC based on being housebound is dismissed as moot due to the grant of SMC by reason of aid and attendance.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding increased disability ratings for lower back strain with degenerative changes and intervertebral disc syndrome, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent throughout the pendency of this claim. Ratings for his left and right lower extremity sciatic nerve disabilities are also granted.

The Board has denied an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's service-connected right lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that her symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities. His eligibility for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development to comply with prior instructions and obtain relevant records from the Social Security Administration.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and bilateral lower extremity sciatica, finding that the evidence did not support direct service connection due to lack of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for skin disorder, vertigo/dizziness disorder, right knee disorder, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a direct relationship to active duty service.