Radiculopathy & sciatica — all decisions

The Board granted the restoration of a 20 percent rating for cervical strain from October 1, 2024, and denied compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss, scars on both knees, upper extremity radiculopathies, and service connection for wrist disorders.

The Board granted service connection for migraine headaches and denied earlier effective dates for several conditions, including degenerative disc disease and arthritis with chronic low back pain and lumbosacral strain.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for degenerative disc disease (DDD) with degenerative arthritis and retrolisthesis from February 16, 2021. Other claims were denied.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and granted a 40 percent disability rating for right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, while denying all other claims.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy and a rating in excess of 20 percent for right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy. However, the Board granted a 20 percent rating for right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy beginning on March 19, 2020.

The Board remands the appeal for additional development, including a retrospective opinion regarding range of motion during flare-ups and requesting evidence pertaining to the Veteran's annual income prior to January 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, thus granting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine disability, including lumbar disc bulge, lumbar scoliosis with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his thoracolumbar spine and radiculopathy conditions, as well as a separate rating for femoral nerve radiculopathy, to obtain additional medical evidence.

The Board granted effective dates of October 30, 2024, for the awards of service connection and increased ratings for various disabilities.

The veteran was granted an initial disability rating of 40 percent, but no higher, from December 26, 2017, for right lower extremity (RLE) sciatica.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity radiculopathy, remanded claims for increased ratings for knee and spine disabilities, and remanded claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, sleep apnea, and GERD.

The Board granted an effective date of March 4, 2019, for the grant of service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity and a 20 percent disability rating for this condition. The earlier effective date claim for the left lower extremity was denied.

The Board remands the claims for an increased, initial disability rating for service-connected cervical strain with ACDF C6-7 and radiculopathy of the left upper extremity to correct a duty to assist error.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various disabilities, including a lumbar spine disability and radiculopathies of both lower extremities, as well as left inguinal hernia and its scar.

The Board granted an effective date of February 6, 2023 for left lower extremity radiculopathy but denied the same for right lower extremity radiculopathy. The increased rating claims for all conditions were remanded.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for right and left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, sciatic nerve.

The Board reinstated the 50 percent disability rating for squamous cell carcinoma of the scalp with surgical scars, effective February 19, 2024. Service connection was also restored for lumbosacral strain and various radiculopathies.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and chronic fatigue syndrome, but granted separate initial 10 percent ratings for right and left lower extremity restless leg syndrome associated with sciatic radiculopathy. The claims for increased ratings for lower extremity radiculopathy were also denied, as were the claims for higher ratings for knee conditions and IBS.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar pain, hypoesthesia and paresthesia of the right lower extremity, left sciatic radicular pain, hypoesthesia, and paresthesia of the left lower extremity, and OSA as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder. The Veteran was also granted an initial evaluation of 70 percent for his service-connected unspecified depressive disorder.