Radiculopathy & sciatica — all decisions

The Board denied increased ratings for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and back disability but granted a TDIU. Several service connection claims were remanded.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the rate provided by 38 U.S.C. § 1114(l) for aid and attendance due to service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and lumbar back strain and intervertebral disc disease with sciatic nerve involvement, as well as SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance at the rate provided by 38 U.S.C. § 1114(r)(1), but not at the higher level of care under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(r)(2).

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 veteran withdrew all appeals for increased ratings of various conditions, resulting in the dismissal of all claims.

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 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.

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 remands the claims for service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy and obstructive sleep apnea, to include as secondary to a service-connected condition, due to inadequate medical opinions.

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 restored the 50% rating for cervicogenic headaches and the 40% rating for right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, effective February 1, 2025, as the reductions were not proper. The reduction of the left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy to 0% was upheld.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection and increased ratings for various disabilities.

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 denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims for other specified depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, somatic symptom disorder, alcohol use disorder, left hip condition, left knee condition, left lower extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right hip condition, right knee condition, right lower extremity radiculopathy, right upper extremity radiculopathy, shin splints, left leg, shin splints, right leg, and traumatic brain injury (TBI) for further development.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran. The other issues related to PTSD, sciatica nerve left leg, sleep apnea, and diabetes were remanded due to incomplete records.

The Board granted the appeals for severance of service connection for neck, left shoulder, and left upper extremity radiculopathy disabilities, as well as entitlement to service connection for headaches.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's lumbar spine, cervical spine, cervical radiculopathy or peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, and lumbar radiculopathy or sciatica of the bilateral lower extremities as there was no evidence to support a relationship between these conditions and his active military service.

The appeals for service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, an earlier effective date for bilateral hearing loss, and a higher initial evaluation for PTSD have been dismissed.

The Board remands the claims for an increased rating, service connection for radiculopathy of both lower extremities, and TDIU due to incomplete evidence.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood chronic, sleepwalker disorder, and lower lumbar extremity radiculopathies. The claims for service connection for PTSD, erectile dysfunction, obstructive sleep apnea, and a TDIU were remanded.