Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder, including strain, disc herniation, and stenosis, as well as associated bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, had causal origins with a May 2001 in-service trauma to the back. Therefore, service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings or service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity L5 radiculopathy has been rated at 20 percent for each leg, reflecting moderate incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, as well as a TDIU claim, were denied by the Board. The criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for both conditions have not been met at any time during the appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine and radiculopathy of both lower extremities have not met the criteria for higher initial disability evaluations.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records. The case will be reconsidered after these are obtained.

The Veteran's low back disability with spondylosis at L4 has been manifested by a range of motion including forward flexion ranging from 65 to 80 degrees; muscle spasm and tenderness in the lumbosacral area; and sciatica sensory deficit manifested by radiation of pain to the right and left lower extremities, with no greater than mild sensory impairment and no finding of paralysis or motor impairment of the lower extremities; and no medical evidence or complaint of bed rest prescribed by a physician. The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his sciatica sensory deficits have not been met.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and consideration of alternative evidence.

The Veteran's combined disability rating of 50 percent does not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU. The Board finds that his service-connected disabilities alone are not severe enough to prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for VA examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran is granted service connection for radiculopathy of the left leg, effective October 25, 2001.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee disability, effective August 5, 2003, the date of the Veteran's application to reopen his claim. The effective date was not earlier than this due to the procedural history and VA regulations.

The Board has determined that additional development of the record is needed to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a higher combined rating on account of service-connected disabilities under 38 C.F.R. � 4.25, finding that his combined ratings were accurately calculated both in the June 1998 rating decision and in the February 2012 rating decision.

The Veteran was granted service connection for cervicalgia, left lower extremity sciatica, and right lower extremity sciatica. Service connection for a left ulnar nerve disorder is also granted.,Service connection is established based on the direct relationship between the claimed conditions and the in-service injury.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to her in-service injuries. The effective date is not specified as it was granted during the appeal process.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for cervical spinal stenosis with radiculopathy and granted it, finding that new evidence submitted since the final March 2006 rating decision relates to an unestablished fact necessary to grant the claim.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lower back disability was denied, but he was granted TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verifying the Veteran's training duty and obtaining relevant medical records. The claim will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current level of impairment due to his service-connected lumbar spine disability and referral to the Director of C&P Service for consideration of entitlement to TDIU.