Radiculopathy & sciatica — all decisions

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, neurological disorders, and gynecological disorders to obtain medical examinations and opinions due to pre-decisional errors in satisfying duties under 38 U.S.C. § 5103A(d), 1117, and 1168.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine with bilateral sacroiliac joint dysfunction, injury of nerves at right wrist and hand level, neuritis of the musculocutaneous nerve (superficial peroneal), injury of nerves at right wrist and hand level, all radicular groups, and nerve damage to right wrist and hand (claimed as right wrist condition). Service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy was also granted as secondary to service-connected degenerative arthritis with sacroiliac joint dysfunction.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral sciatic radicular pain and paresthesia as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected low back condition, lumbar sprain.

The Board granted a disability rating of 40 percent, but no higher, for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve.

The Board granted a 60 percent rating for asthma with pulmonary nodules, denied an increased evaluation greater than 40 percent for thoracolumbar strain, and granted a 10 percent evaluation for right lower extremity radiculopathy effective September 1, 2023.

The Board denied service connection for a thoracic spine disability and remanded the claims for bilateral hip, left sciatic radicular pain, headaches, and cervicothoracic spine disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and chronic sinusitis. However, it granted an increased disability rating of 30 percent for left upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's depressive disorder alone rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and she is entitled to a TDIU for accrued benefits purposes on and from December 19, 2015. Additionally, the Veteran meets the criteria for SMC based on statutory housebound criteria for accrued benefits purposes.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings or earlier effective dates.

The Board denied a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims for osteoarthritis of the right hip, left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and right lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for SLAP tear, right upper extremity and denied service connection for radiculopathy, left lower extremity. Service connection was granted for radiculopathy, right lower extremity effective September 13, 2021.

The Board granted an effective date of April 24, 2014, for service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, a rating of 40 percent from April 24, 2014 to August 13, 2020 for the back disability, and a separate rating for bowel incontinence associated with the back disability.

The Board denied increased ratings for cervical strain, degenerative arthritis and disc disease with spondylosis, right and left knee osteoarthritis, and right upper and lower extremity radiculopathy but granted separate 10 percent ratings for right and left knee instability and a 40 percent rating for right upper extremity radiculopathy. The Board also remanded the claim for entitlement to TDIU.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, spinal stenosis, and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy to obtain a more adequate medical opinion.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for RLE radiculopathy, sciatic nerve but granted one for LLE radiculopathy, sciatic nerve.

The Board dismissed all appeals related to service connection for various conditions and an effective date prior to March 13, 2024, for the award of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board remands the claim for a disability rating greater than 20 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a temporary total rating based on convalescence and entitlement to specially adapted housing, as he was not service-connected for a lumbar spine disability at the time of his spinal laminectomy in December 2019, and there is no evidence of loss or loss of use of any extremities that would preclude locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair.

The Board denied a rating greater than 20 percent for the lumbar spine disability and an evaluation greater than 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy, but granted an evaluation of 20 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy. The claim for Morton's neuroma was remanded.

The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, but denied increased ratings for major depressive disorder with anxious distress features and polysubstance use and chronic venous insufficiency and varicose veins.