Radiculopathy & sciatica — all decisions

The Board denied the veteran's appeals for increased ratings and remanded certain issues, including TDIU and SMC.

The Board denied the claims for earlier effective dates and remanded several service connection claims.

The Board dismissed the appeals for earlier effective dates of service connection and DEA benefits, as they were not properly before the Board. The issues related to increased ratings and TDIU/Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) are remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disorder, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and traumatic brain injury due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to deficiencies in previous VA medical opinions.

The Veteran was granted a 40 percent rating for his back disability from September 14, 2017 to February 24, 2020 and a 20 percent rating for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy during the same period. The claims for higher ratings were denied for other conditions.

The appeal of the proposed reduction of the ratings for left and right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathies from 20 percent to 10 percent was dismissed because it is not a final action.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including knee and foot conditions, a low back disability, radiculopathy, tinnitus, and a neck condition, to correct pre-decisional errors in fulfilling VA's duty to assist by rescheduling missed examinations.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the award of service connection and denied increased ratings for various disabilities, but granted a separate rating for left upper extremity radiculopathy from October 20, 2020.

The Board denied increased ratings for left and right lower extremity sciatica but granted separate disability ratings for neuritis and neuralgia.

The Board granted a 20 percent initial rating for bilateral dry eye syndrome and service connection for left knee strain, but denied other claims including increased ratings for right lower extremity radiculopathy, bilateral hearing loss, incomplete right bundle branch block (claimed as cardiac arrhythmia), degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine with IVDS, scarring of the left inguinal area, status post varicocele surgery, and service connection for left shoulder strain and restless leg syndrome.

The Board restored a 30 percent rating for left upper extremity radiculopathy, granted an increased evaluation of 70 percent for right upper extremity radiculopathy and granted an increased evaluation of 30 percent for cervical strain with intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative changes status post fusion C5-C7.

The Board denied service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease, obstructive sleep apnea, and right and left knee disabilities. The claims for headaches, a lumbar spine disability, and left lower extremity radiculopathy were remanded.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of March 30, 2017, for a 20 percent rating for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic and femoral nerves, as well as a rating greater than 40 percent from April 15, 2024.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy based on a direct link to the Veteran's military service.

The Board granted an effective date of November 29, 2018, for left lower extremity radiculopathy and a rating of 40 percent from that date.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the award of increased ratings for a lumbar disability and lower extremity radiculopathies, effective August 4, 2022.

The Board granted an initial 20 percent rating for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease prior to September 9, 2020 and earlier effective dates of March 5, 2020 for the award of service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied service connection for chronic sinusitis, fibromyalgia, and CFS. The Veteran's hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy, shoulder disability, knee meniscal tear, knee limitation of extension, knee scars, GERD, allergic rhinitis, asthma, and PTSD were also not rated higher than their current levels.