Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claims for service connection for radiculopathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities and a headache disorder have been denied as there is no competent medical evidence to support these diagnoses.,There is no current diagnosis of radiculopathy or chronic headaches in the record, despite the Veteran's complaints.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain and HNP, L4-L5, status post-operative are productive of incapacitating episodes requiring bed rest having a total duration that exceeds 6 weeks in a year. The Board has also granted an increased rating to 60 percent for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disorder is more likely due to aging and overuse, rather than service-connected knee conditions. The condition was not aggravated by his in-service knee problems.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to issues regarding service connection for various spinal and neurological conditions, as well as sleep apnea. The case will be returned to the RO via the AMC for this purpose.

The Veteran is granted a separate initial 10 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy since January 9, 2006. The claim for an increased rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine remains denied. Service connection for PTSD and memory loss are also denied.

The Veteran is seeking a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities, but the RO needs to obtain additional evidence and conduct further development including VA examinations.

The Board found that left leg radiculopathy was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty service. The right knee disorder and testicular disorder issues were also addressed, but the decision is unclear on whether they were granted or denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities is related to his service-connected herniated nucleus pulposus, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disorders.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and for increased ratings for her lumbar spine DDD, left foot bunionectomy, and right foot hallux valgus deformity disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for sciatica, finding that the preponderance of the evidence is against a causal link to service or herbicide exposure. The Veteran's claim was reopened based on new and material evidence but ultimately denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional records from Social Security Administration.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected low back disability and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for left lumbar radiculopathy was denied, and the Board found that a preponderance of evidence is against his claim. The TDIU claim is remanded for further action.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral radiculopathy of the lower extremities. The case is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and any non-VA medical records related to his claimed condition.

The Veteran's lumbar spondylosis with bilateral facet joint arthritis at L4-5 and L5-S1 is manifested by limitation of flexion to 40 degrees, but without any incapacitating episodes having a duration of more than six weeks in any one-year period. The VA granted an increased rating of 20 percent for this condition.

The Veteran's traumatic arthritis of the lumbar spine with radiculopathy has not met the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that it is related to in-service noise exposure. The other issues of entitlement to service connection have not been adjudicated and are referred back to the RO.

The Veteran's spondylosis, L5-S1, with lumbosacral strain and left lower extremity radiculopathy is not rated higher than 20 percent due to lack of forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine at 30 degrees or less.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA orthopedic and neurologic examination to clarify his back diagnoses and determine whether his claimed cervical spine disability and radiculopathy of the upper and lower extremities are related to his service-connected ankylosing spondylitis.