Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2011

The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional service records, including those related to the Veteran's deployment in Southwest Asia. The Veteran is seeking service connection for a cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left hip disorder and right leg radiculopathy/weakness were denied as there was no in-service injury or disease manifesting the symptoms claimed, and no continuity of symptoms after service separation.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA examinations to determine the impact of his service-connected disabilities on employment.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board found that the appellant's current neck disability and fatigue were not incurred or aggravated by active duty service, nor could they be presumed to be related thereto. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran's lumbar disability was evaluated at 20 percent, and the Board found that a higher rating is not warranted based on his current symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Veteran meets the preliminary schedular criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, but further development is needed as the VA physician assistant's statement alone does not offer enough information on whether he is unemployable.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records from Temple VAMC. The case will be readjudicated after these records are obtained and reviewed.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability with radiculopathy was not incurred or aggravated by service, and is not proximately due to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial evaluation for radiculopathy and neuropathy of the right lower extremity associated with degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbosacral spine was granted, but not higher than 10 percent.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and he does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. He was granted a separate 10% evaluation for his radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for further development and consideration of his claims, including those related to increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia and sciatica are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back strain does not warrant a rating greater than 40 percent, and his right lower extremity neuropathy is rated separately at 10 percent.

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain the Veteran's service treatment records for his periods of active duty and ACDUTRA service with the Marine Corps Reserves. The case is REMANDED for these records to be obtained.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for left leg radiculopathy is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's fungal skin disability of the feet and toenail fungus have been granted service connection. Service connection for bilateral shoulder/cervical spine disability has also been granted, but no rating assigned. The Veteran's lumbar sprain with degenerative disc disease is rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available.