Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is related to service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for either a low back disorder or a left knee disorder, as there is no clear and unmistakable evidence to rebut the presumption of soundness at entry into service.

The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected chronic left C7 radiculopathy, as his current disability level is already at 20 percent.

The veteran's service-connected chronic low back strain is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board found that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The veteran's claim for increased rating and total disability due to service-connected disabilities was denied. The RO found that the current 20 percent evaluation for his low back disorder did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition and granted service connection based on direct evidence of an in-service injury.,Service connection was also established for sciatic pain of both legs as secondary to spondylolysis with spondylolisthesis.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a neurological examination and consideration of newly obtained private treatment records.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination, including review of his claims file and a VA examination. The issues on appeal are service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities as secondary to service-connected bilateral pes cavus and an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for service-connected lumbar spine degenerative changes and radiculopathy.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right wrist, low back, and lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities have been denied. The highest rating of 50 percent has been granted for the status post right wrist fusion since May 1, 2001.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an effective date prior to May 24, 1984 for a 30 percent evaluation for his service-connected degenerative disc disease and denied his claim for service connection for a neck disability.

The appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew it through his authorized representative.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current back condition, manifested by lumbar radiculopathy and myositis, is likely due to injuries sustained during his period of active service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease, resulting from hypercholesterolemia during service, is granted. His spine disability remains at a 50% rating and his sciatic neuropathy of the right lower extremity is rated at 10%. The claims are all granted.

The veteran is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities, specifically his right common peroneal nerve paralysis and clinical right SI lumbar radiculopathy.

The veteran's appeal of the claim for a rating higher than 40 percent for low back strain with degenerative disc disease has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal in April 2007.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing service medical records and attempts to locate post-service treatment records.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess his disabilities. The RO must then assign disability ratings based on the evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a medical examination and opinion regarding whether the veteran's sciatica is related to her period of active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a low back disorder that is proximately due, the result of, or chronically aggravated by his service-connected bilateral pes planus. The claims for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy/radiculopathy are pending.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the veteran's current degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity and his military service, thus denying both claims for service connection.