Radiculopathy & sciatica — all decisions

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and increased ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to procedural issues.

The Board denied various claims for increased ratings and service connection, including cervical spine strain with IVDS, upper extremity radiculopathy, tinnitus, lumbosacral strain, and shin splints.

The Board granted a separate disability rating of 10 percent for sciatic neuritis and 20 percent for sciatic neuralgia, but denied an increased initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for incomplete paralysis.

The Board granted service connection for cervical radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability and denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for a cervical spine disability.

The Board remanded the issues of entitlement to earlier effective dates for RLE and LLE radiculopathy service connection awards, finding that the AOJ failed to reconsider these claims under 38 C.F.R. § 3.156(c) after receipt of relevant official service department records. The Board remanded for a VA medical opinion to determine whether the radiculopathy onset occurred prior to September 15, 1999.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left and right ankle pain, lumbar spine pain, left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, left knee pain, and right ear hearing loss.

The Board granted a 50 percent rating for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, but denied a compensable rating for hypertension. The claims for cervical strain and left upper extremity radiculopathy were remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance or housebound status due to her service-connected disabilities not meeting the criteria.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to a need for additional evidence.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a lumbosacral strain, left hip disability, right hip disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include anxious distress, with intermittent major depressive episodes, as additional evidence needs to be considered.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal requests for all rating decisions due to untimeliness and lack of good cause.

The Board granted service connection for a right shoulder disability and remanded the claims for lumbar spine, thoracic spine, right hip, left knee, right knee, left ankle, right ankle, and bilateral foot disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, as well as bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted initial ratings of 70 percent for a psychiatric disability, 40 percent for a low back disability, and 20 percent each for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy involving the sciatic nerve and femoral nerve. The claim for an initial rating greater than 30 percent for irritable bowel syndrome was denied.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the service connection of radiculopathy of the right and left femoral nerves, but granted an effective date of April 30, 2021, for a 70 percent rating for generalized anxiety disorder with alcohol use disorder, moderate.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for the service-connected left upper extremity radiculopathy, effective from August 3, 2023.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis and sinusitis are service-connected due to exposure to fine particulate matter during her deployment.,The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is service-connected based on onset during active service.,The Veteran's left ankle condition is service-connected as it occurred during reserve service.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

The Board denied service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left hand 3rd digit laceration, boil removal, and a left ankle disability. The Board also denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right elbow lateral epicondylitis with limitation of pronation.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, restored the 40 percent rating for lumbar spine disability, and granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, left and right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and generalized anxiety disorder to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.