Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2014

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to October 10, 2007. The combined evaluation of his disabilities was 50 percent from September 20, 2001 to October 10, 2007.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a new VA medical opinion to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral leg disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, lumbar disc disease with left lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral knee disorders. The Board found that there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including verification of periods of active duty for training (ADT) and inactive duty for training (IADT), obtaining updated VA treatment records, and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed cervical conditions, skin rash, and radiculopathy.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his withdrawal of claims for right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and left ear hearing loss. The reduction of the rating for back disability from 40% to 20% is granted.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for treatment at Yuma Regional Medical Center on October 6, 2011 are approved as the treatment was necessary due to his service-connected PTSD and the severity of his symptoms.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left leg neurological disability, including sciatica, is associated with his service-connected spinal stenosis and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for increased ratings for his service-connected herniated lumbar disk and radiculopathy, as well as a claim for TDIU. The case is REMANDED to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disease with left upper extremity radiculopathy is found to have originated during his active service and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is rated at 40 percent effective January 1, 2012. Additionally, her moderately severe incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve is also rated at 40 percent effective January 1, 2012.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and propriety of assigned ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis for the Veteran's claimed cervical spine, lumbar spine, and right lower extremity disabilities. Therefore, service connection cannot be granted.,The Veteran's hypertension was not evaluated in this decision.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for residuals of bilateral inguinal hernia repair is granted.,The claim for service connection for depression, to include as due to in-service exposure to mustard gas and as secondary to service-connected disabilities, is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy has been granted, with a combined disability rating of 50 percent. The Board also found that he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current low back degenerative disc disease with left lumbar radiculopathy is more likely than not related to his service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected cervical upper extremities disabilities. The Veteran is to be provided with VA examinations and asked to complete a VA Form 21-8940.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims, particularly regarding service connection for a left leg disability other than radiculopathy.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues of increased rating for low back disorder, earlier effective date for the assignment of a 20 percent rating for low back disorder, service connection for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, cervical muscle strain, traumatic arthritis of the sternoclavicular joint of the left second rib, and gastroesophageal reflux disease are being remanded. The issue of TDIU is also being remanded.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 20 percent, effective April 28, 2007. His left lower extremity radiculopathy is also rated at 20 percent, effective April 28, 2007.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a new examination of his right-sided radiculopathy. The TDIU claim also requires further medical opinion regarding the impact of service-connected medications on employment.