Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2012

The Board has remanded the case to obtain a supplemental/explanatory medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current lumbar spine/low back disability is related to his active service. The appeal will be considered on remand.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical radiculopathy of bilateral upper extremities is service-connected as it is associated with his service-connected cervical spine degenerative disc disease.

The Board has granted service connection for right lumbar radiculopathy as a component of the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has determined that the VA examination is inadequate and remands for further development, including a new examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's cervical spine disability and associated radiculopathy.

The Veteran's initial rating for lumbar radiculopathy of the right lower extremity was reduced from 10 percent to a non-compensable rating effective March 29, 2011. Prior to this date, his disability was rated as 10 percent.

The Veteran's low back disability and sciatica of the right lower extremity are rated at 10 percent prior to March 29, 2010, and at 40 percent thereafter. A separate 10 percent rating is assigned for neurological impairment of the left lower extremity.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left hand numbness is related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for lumbar radiculopathy involving the left lower extremity and granted service connection based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, including low back strain, arthritis, degenerative disc disease, and radiculopathy claimed as bilateral leg numbness, is related to his active service and is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate consideration of the evidence in a previous VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings on the lumbar spine and lower extremity radiculopathy were denied. The Veteran was granted a 60 percent rating for intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine effective April 11, 2012.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is found to be proximately due to his service-connected low back disability, and thus granted service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess his current level of disability, as he testified that his service-connected lumbar spine disability has worsened since his last examination.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss was found to be incurred in service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The claims of entitlement to increased ratings for his right leg radiculopathy and residuals of a gunshot wound to the right leg with incomplete tibial nerve injury are addressed but not decided.

The Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc and joint disease has not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 40 percent since October 12, 2005.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for thoracic and lumbar spine disabilities were denied, with the Board finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation or an evaluation in excess of 10 percent prior to September 26, 2003.

The Veteran's service-connected right upper extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 40 percent, effective from the date of the decision.,Before October 12, 2011, the Veteran's service-connected post-operative degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine was rated at 30 percent. Effective October 12, 2011, it is rated at 40 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with VA examinations to address his claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical spine disability, and numbness and tingling of the lower extremities.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for lumbar radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.