Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims, including consideration of old and new criteria for evaluating spine disabilities, as well as entitlement to an extraschedular evaluation and a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities render him unemployable. The case will be returned to the Board for further consideration.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and lumbar spinal stenosis with radiculopathy were denied. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to his period of active duty.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, cervical spine disorder, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, eye disorder/vision loss, and periodontal disease were denied as the evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and her service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder radiculopathy and peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, as well as his increased rating claims. The Veteran was granted an increased rating of 20% for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records, examinations, and development of his case.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability became so severe on July 1, 2000 that it made him unable to follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his lumbar spine disability and whether he has radiculopathy. The Veteran should be provided with an opportunity to submit or identify any evidence that may assist him in substantiating his claims.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine is granted, as it was incurred in service. The Board finds that his right upper extremity radiculopathy is related to his service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left leg numbness, paralysis, and radiculopathy, as well as lumbar spine disability, are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a new VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity as there was no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after service, and the current conditions are not shown to be related to military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals in a June 2013 statement, thus the appeals are dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain was granted, while the claim for lumbar radiculopathy of the left leg received a 10% rating. The hypertension claim is pending and referred to the RO.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine with chronic lumbago and right sciatica is related to his active duty military service, resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain updated medical records, schedule him for VA examinations, and readjudicate his claims.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and service medical records, scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy during flare-ups, and completing development on issues related to neck and left hip disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, chronic headaches, right knee condition, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and lumbar disc disease with left radiculopathy are granted. The Veteran is also awarded a non-compensable rating for his eczema prior to February 25, 2013, and a compensable rating thereafter.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of the conditions listed, and the Veteran has not submitted new and material evidence to reopen his claim for diabetic retinopathy.

The Board has determined that further review of the X-ray films, CT scans and MRIs is necessary to determine if the Veteran has ankylosis of the cervical spine. The case is REMANDED for this purpose.