Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2014

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a low back disability and granted a compensable rating (10%) for residuals of multiple rib fractures. The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, eye disability, right total hip replacement, and heart disability are dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current cervical disk disease with intermittent radiculopathy is at least as likely as not incurred in or due to service, specifically his lengthy surgery for cholesteatoma performed in 1994. The condition was not caused by or aggravated by any other conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any right hand or left hand disorders, other than upper extremity radiculopathy, which are etiologically related to his active military service.,As such, the claims for service connection for these conditions have been denied.

The Veteran's representative withdrew the appeal, satisfied with his current rating of 40 percent for his back condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities is causally related to his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a spine examination. The issues of increased ratings for degenerative disc disease with mild spondylosis of the lumbar and thoracolumbar junction, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy are also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with radiculopathy was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rate of Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits was denied as he did not meet the criteria due to his discharge from active duty service.

The Board denied entitlement to separate service connection for a right foot disability and an increased rating for incomplete paralysis of the right sciatic nerve with contracture, flexion of right knee. The Veteran's death prevented any further consideration of these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, and major depressive disorder, have resulted in a combined rating of 80 percent since March 31, 2010. The Board is remanding to determine if he was unemployable due to these disabilities prior to that date.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and SSA records, as well as a new VA examination to assess his employability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for nephrolithiasis has been reopened and granted.,A 100 percent rating for PTSD is assigned, effective May 30, 2007.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and evidence. The Board will consider the new examination results in determining whether service connection is warranted for her claimed conditions.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain, status post laminectomy with fusion, is rated at 50 percent effective from the date of this decision.

The Veteran's disabilities are permanent and total in nature, meeting the criteria for specially adapted housing and a special home adaptation grant.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is related to his service-connected left knee disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new examination for his cervical spine disability and because of inextricably intertwined issues regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy/radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral lower extremities.

The Board found no evidence of a spinal disorder, radiculopathy, heart condition, or Graves' disease during the appellant's period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and did not relate these conditions to his meningitis. The Board determined that the current diagnoses were due to other causes.

The Veteran's left upper extremity radiculopathy has been granted a 20 percent rating since March 14, 2008. The claim for service connection for lumbar spine disability was denied. The issue of TDIU is pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disorder and associated left lower extremity radiculopathy were not incurred in or aggravated by his active military service, and may not be presumed to have been.