Radiculopathy & sciatica — all decisions

The Board denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar spine disability and a rating in excess of 10 percent for left-sided mild incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve.

The Board granted an effective date of January 21, 2022, for the award of service connection for PTSD and a rating of 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) effective December 20, 2022.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied increased ratings for various conditions, including loss of the sense of smell, urinary problems, erectile dysfunction, and Parkinson's disease, among others.

The Board granted service connection for basal cell carcinoma and a higher initial disability rating of 70 percent for other specified trauma-and-stressor-related disorder, while denying increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, right lower radiculopathy, bilateral hearing loss, chronic rhinitis, tension headaches, and mitral valve prolapse.

The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection and increased ratings, resulting in their dismissal.

The Board denied higher disability ratings for the veteran's low back and lower extremity radiculopathies, pseudofolliculitis barbae, pes planus and plantar fasciitis, and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining a retrospective medical opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's service-connected conditions without the use of pain medication and securing the credentials of the VA examiners.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for erectile dysfunction and remanded the claims for a higher rating for spondylolisthesis with degenerative disc disease, left and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, and service connection for migraines.

The Board granted service connection for multiple psychiatric and physical disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left foot disability, left lower extremity sciatica, low back disability, and left arm disability.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, left and right lower extremity radiculopathies, left and right hip pain, right knee degenerative arthritis, generalized anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder.

The Board granted separate ratings of 20 percent for left/right lower extremities peripheral neuritis and neuralgia of the sciatic nerve based on severe intermittent pain.

The Board granted restoration of 20 percent ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathies of the sciatic and femoral nerves, but denied increased ratings in excess of 20 percent. The Board also remanded service connection for prostate cancer and a rating increase for low back strain.

The Board granted the restoration of a 30 percent rating for left upper extremity radiculopathy effective June 26, 2023, as the reduction was improper.

The Board denied service connection for upper chest wall pain and right sciatic radicular pain, while remanding claims for secondary service connection involving the feet, legs, and ankles.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left and right eye dry eyes, cataracts of the left and right eyes, neuropathy of the left lower extremity, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, left renal arteriovenous malformation, aneurysm, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the lumbar spine, recurrent subluxation of the left knee prior to May 13, 2020, left total knee replacement, disability rating in excess of 60 percent from September 1, 2021, forward for left total knee replacement, DJD of the right knee, right knee instability, burns of the bilateral ankles, linear scar of the left knee, post-surgical tender scars of the left knee, and a total disability rating due to unemployability (TDIU) based upon service-connected disabilities prior to June 14, 2019.

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.

The Board remands the claims for an increased rating, service connection as secondary to a back disability, TDIU, and SMC due to the need for aid and attendance.

The Board granted service connection for multiple spinal conditions and a right foot disorder, effective from the date of the September 2024 rating decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy and a separate evaluation for left knee instability, finding that the evidence did not support higher evaluations.