Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2014

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain is found to have caused or aggravated his sciatica, and the Board finds that he has a current disability. The cervical spine and bilateral hip disabilities are also found to be related to his service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection, finding no new and material evidence to reopen tuberculosis or psychiatric disability claims. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus claim was also denied as there is no competent credible evidence of its onset in service or due to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right upper extremity is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the current evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate nexus opinions and additional development is needed for service connection claims.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 60 percent since December 12, 2012. His left lower extremity radiculopathy is separately rated as moderate.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining a VA examination and requesting copies of SSA records. The claims will be remanded to allow for these actions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule him for a VA examination. The issues are about rating his service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, and associated radiculopathy.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination. The issues of entitlement to initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease and left lower extremity sciatica are on appeal.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was granted a 40% rating effective November 30, 2010. His cervical spine disability received a 20% rating effective the same date. The radiculopathy of his lower extremities were each assigned initial noncompensable ratings from February 12, 2009.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with radiculopathy and cervical spine disorder, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's period of active duty. Service connection for bilateral shoulder disorder is denied as there is no evidence linking the current condition to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a low back disability, neuropathy to include sciatica of the lower extremities, and a psychiatric disorder due to new and material evidence presented by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for recurrent dislocation of the left knee, acquired psychiatric disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and sciatica is granted due to aggravation by service. The claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and sciatica are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is not separate from his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and disc bulge, thus no additional compensable rating can be granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's neck disorder is related to his military service, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination to assess the Veteran's lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Schwannoma tumor of the spine and sciatic nerve with scarring developed during his period of active duty. Service connection is granted for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO/AMC for additional development of his claims, including a review of new evidence and readjudication.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is rated at 20 percent, and his residuals of fractured navicular of the right foot are rated as non-compensable. The higher rating for the left lower extremity is granted.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left lumbar radiculopathy is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of his treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU was denied as he did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU prior to April 11, 2012. The case was referred to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service (C & P) for consideration on an extraschedular basis, but the C & P Director determined that TDIU should not be granted on an extraschedular basis prior to April 11, 2012.