Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2010

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar radiculopathy of the left lower extremity and degenerative joint disease of the left foot are currently rated at 10 percent each, with no higher ratings granted due to lack of moderate impairment in motion.

The Veteran's headaches are secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The Board finds that the Veteran's left knee and bilateral hip disabilities are secondary to his service-connected low back disability, while his right hand disability is aggravated by combat operations during the Panama conflict.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for another VA examination to assess her employability due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected mechanical low back pain with radiculopathy of the left lower extremity did not present an exceptional or unusual disability picture, and therefore, the available schedular evaluation was adequate to rate his disability. The evidence did not show marked interference with employment due to his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was granted with initial ratings of 10 percent prior to January 8, 2008 and increased to 40 percent after that date. He also received separate 10 percent ratings for radiculopathy affecting his lower extremities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have GERD, sciatic nerve disorder, or arthritis of the fingers on objective examination and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and cervical disc disease with radiculopathy. The Veteran's claims for a right knee disability and neck disability are not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings have been remanded due to missed VA examinations and the need to obtain updated medical records.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral L5 spondylolysis was denied, and his secondary service connection claim for erectile dysfunction was also denied. The Board found that the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability did not meet the criteria for a higher than 40 percent rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine, and that his erectile dysfunction is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected low back disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral foot disorder and an initial compensable disability rating for L5-S1 disc protrusion with annular tear and bilateral radiculopathy prior to July 17, 2007, and in excess of 20 percent since July 17, 2007 on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus. The hearing loss and radiculopathy claims are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected back disability and its associated neurological impairment.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for sciatic neuralgia of the left leg is being remanded to allow for a new VA examination and consideration of his symptoms since the last evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for her service-connected degenerative disc disease with spinal stenosis and S1 radiculopathy is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran does not have a left side disorder that is related to military service or an event of service origin. The Board finds no medical evidence linking the current left thoracic strain to his in-service injury and concludes it is less likely than not related to his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with left radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his lumbosacral spine disorder and resultant radiculopathies was granted, with the lumbosacral spine disorder receiving a 20 percent rating effective from December 3, 2001. The radiculopathies of the left lower extremity received a 10 percent rating effective from December 3, 2001, and the radiculopathy of the right lower extremity also received a 10 percent rating effective from December 3, 2001.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to further development of evidence being required. The right knee sprain claim is not granted, and other service connection claims are also not granted.

The Board has found that the Veteran's compression fracture at T5-6 with radiculopathy is causally related to his active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder disorder, neck disorder, or radiculopathy of the legs due to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's multilevel degenerative changes of the lumbar spine with radiculopathy have been rated at 20 percent since September 27, 2006. The Board found that his current disability does not warrant a higher rating as it has manifested by pain and limited motion.