Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back, bilateral foot, and bilateral ankle disabilities are related to his active service. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining vocational rehabilitation records and conducting an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's employability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and evidence, as well as for further examinations to determine the current nature and severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's herniated nucleus pulposus, stenosis, degenerative joint disease, and degenerative disc disease at the C5-C6 interspace, as well as his right shoulder myofasciitis with arthritis secondary to right cervical spine radiculopathy, were not incurred or aggravated during active service. The Board found insufficient evidence to support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain missing records and a VA examination for the Veteran's low back disorder with left leg radiculopathy. The appeal is being remanded to the RO.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the issues of increased ratings for sciatica of both lower extremities remain denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, finding that her service-connected disabilities did not preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected L5-S1 herniated disc and lumbar spondylosis, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 60 percent for the L5-S1 condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his diagnosed left hip sprain, including whether it is related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him totally unemployable, as he is capable of performing sedentary employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his lumbar spine and cervical spine conditions, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back condition with sciatica was not incurred or aggravated in service and is not otherwise related to his active duty. The Veteran's hearing loss and PTSD are currently evaluated as they are, without additional compensation being granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for sciatic nerve paralysis of the right and left lower extremities are being remanded due to unclear current severity of her disability. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is also before the Board.

The VA has determined that the Veteran's right ankle disorder, low back disorder, and sciatica are not caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities. The evidence does not support a finding of secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability and lumbar spine disability with radiculopathy are not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected right total knee replacement.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, chondromalacia with medial meniscus tear of both knees, radiculopathy of both lower extremities, and hearing loss. The noncompensable rating assigned for his hearing loss disability is upheld.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to assess his left knee disability, right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disorder, neurological disorder affecting bilateral lower extremities (sciatica), and erectile dysfunction. The conditions are considered secondary to his service-connected residuals of injury to the right leg with arthritis of the right knee.

The Veteran's current low back disability, including degenerative disc disease and arthritis of the lumbar spine with radiculopathy, is considered to have been incurred in service. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether this condition was caused by an in-service injury during his active duty.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and clarifying the Veteran's desire to continue his appeal.