Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for sciatica and radiculopathy disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development and consideration, including obtaining an opinion regarding whether his sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected sarcoidosis, as well as addressing the conflicting evidence of arthritis in both feet versus no arthritis found on recent x-rays. The issues include entitlement to service connection for various conditions such as sleep apnea, foot disabilities, TBI residuals, headaches, PTSD, and increased ratings for sarcoidosis and back disability.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis was caused by her service-connected lumbar spine disability.,Service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy was denied as there is no evidence of a nexus to service or herbicide exposure. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms did not manifest until almost 30 years after her military service.

The Veteran's back disability, PTSD, and bilateral radiculopathy have been granted a combined rating of 70 percent. The TDIU claim has also been granted.

The appeal for service connection and ratings for various radiculopathy conditions is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantial gainful employment since March 22, 2012. The Board has granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for left lower extremity sciatica to include left foot drop was denied. The Board found that the current 60 percent rating adequately reflects the severity of his disability, and there is no evidence of exceptional circumstances warranting an extra-schedular evaluation.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy and loss of use of both hands were found to be manifested as of January 16, 2007. Effective from that date, the Veteran is granted a 100% rating for loss of use of both hands.

The Veteran is granted TDIU for his service-connected disabilities prior to May 26, 2020 and TDIU solely due to PTSD beginning May 26, 2020. SMC at the housebound rate is also granted starting from May 26, 2020.

The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 20 percent since July 14, 2012. The TDIU claim is granted from July 24, 2007 through July 13, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine with sacroiliac injury, and radiculopathy of the lower extremities, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. As such, he is granted a TDIU rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis, myomectomy cystic fibroids (MCF), plantar fasciitis, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).,The Veteran's allergic rhinitis was not aggravated by her military service.

An increased rating of 40 percent for a low back disability is granted from August 2, 2018.,An increased rating of 30 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis is granted from August 2, 2018. An increased rating in excess of 30 percent is denied.,An increased rating in excess of 10 percent before August 2, 2018 is denied.

The Board has determined that there is at least a 50% chance the Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is related to his service-connected back disability, and thus grants the claim for service connection on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of stroke, pneumothorax, lumbar scoliosis with degenerative disc disease/degenerative joint disease, and radiculopathy are all denied.,Service connection is not granted for the Veteran's claimed conditions as they do not meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as they are rated at 20% and 40%, respectively, which is sufficient to consider him unemployable. The Board finds that his employment history and educational background support his ability to maintain substantially gainful employment despite his disability.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran's claimed conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board denies a TDIU.