Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, with the exception of those related to hearing loss and arthritis pain. The Veteran was also awarded initial evaluations in excess of 10 percent for certain conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sciatic nerve disorder is being remanded due to the need to reconcile previous decisions and clarify the matter.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was reduced from 10% to noncompensable effective November 1, 2008. His other claims for increased evaluations were denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in the need for regular aid and attendance, as she is able to perform her activities of daily living without requiring assistance from another person.

The Veteran's claimed cervical spine disability is not service-connected, and the Board finds that his other service-connected disabilities do not warrant separate ratings for a left retinal tear and corneal scar.

The Board denied the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that there was no evidence showing its onset during active duty and concluding that it is not related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain and retain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and an increased rating, finding no new and material evidence to reopen his claim and concluding that his current cervical spine condition is not related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and medical records review.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to incomplete development and examination.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities and whether they are related to service. The case will be remanded for a VA examination.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including obtaining complete service treatment records and recent VA treatment records. The Veteran will be provided with a VA orthopedic examination to assess his current lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for radiculopathy of the lower right and left extremities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient recent medical evidence and the need for a VA examination to assess his current disability status, including any associated left radiculopathy.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's lumbar spine condition and right lower extremity radiculopathy are currently rated at 20 percent each, which is the maximum schedular rating available for these conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disability. As such, the claim remains denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is granted, and he is also granted service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome with radiculopathy as secondary to his service-connected condition. The effective date for the grant of service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is set at October 23, 1995.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The RO found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee strain, 30 percent for thoracolumbar radiculopathy and degenerative arthritis, or any additional rating for groin pain.