Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2013

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The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for further review due to issues related to the Veteran's service-connected low back disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy, including consideration of lay statements regarding left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current low back disability and radiculopathy are related to his active military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disorder with left leg radiculopathy is likely due to a motor vehicle accident during service, and granted service connection based on direct service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back condition and a bilateral leg condition, finding that there was no evidence of continuity of symptomatology or a link between current conditions and military service.

The Board finds no credible evidence of an in-service event that can be related to the Veteran's current cervical spine disorder and C-5 radiculopathy, thus denying service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for completion of an examination and additional development. The issues are whether he should receive a higher rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability with degenerative changes, and if he has lumbar radiculopathy that is secondary to this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear for a scheduled videoconference hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after appropriate action.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claimed neck, back, bilateral CTS and bilateral sciatica disabilities are not related to his service. The evidence does not show a current disability or any link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal of the claims seeking higher initial ratings for PTSD and disabilities of the low back, left knee, right ankle, and right wrist.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disorder, cervical spine disorder, and cervical radiculopathy are related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability with radiculopathy and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge of the Board.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypercholesterolemia, right hip disability, left hip disability, neuropsychiatric condition (depression), cervical spine disability, bilateral neuropathy and radiculopathy of the lower extremities, degenerative joint disease of the knees, bulging disc and herniation, degenerative changes of the ankles, and thoracic paravertebral myositis were denied. The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for melanoma was initially denied in an August 1994 rating decision. New and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim, but he is currently receiving a maximum 40 percent evaluation for his left leg radiculopathy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent from November 9, 2005.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in the loss of use of his feet, warranting eligibility for automobile and adaptive equipment.