Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2011

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left knee and cervical spine disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and the retrieval of relevant treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure and denied service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as not related to the service-connected back disability. The Veteran's testimony supported his claims.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for his low back disability, including associated radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, was denied as there is no evidence that the disability warrants an extra-schedular evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA examination and considering the Joint Motion's instructions.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since September 6, 2007. His radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for more recent records, specifically a VA bone scan from October 2005. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability with radiculopathy is being reviewed.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection and increased ratings in the specified cases, thus dismissing these matters.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and providing a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left ear hearing loss, psychiatric disability other than PTSD, cervical radiculopathy, onychomycosis of the feet and toes, a fungus infection of the first finger, and erectile dysfunction. The Veteran's annual income was found to be excessive for nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are not properly adjudicated due to procedural defects and requires further development, including a VA examination.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to clarify the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's claimed lumbar radiculopathy involving the left lower extremity, as well as whether it is related to his service-connected low back disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current neck disabilities, including a compression fracture of the cervical spine and degenerative disc disease, are related to his in-service injury. The claim is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities necessitate the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, which has been granted special monthly compensation.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability, but granted service connection for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to outstanding records and incomplete information.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected lumbar spine and right leg disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a neurological work-up to determine if the Veteran's lower extremity radiculopathy is related to his service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran does not have a chronic disorder manifested by bilateral knee disability, right sciatica, or headaches. The Board finds that the claims for these conditions must be denied.