Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right upper back and shoulder pain, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and L4-5 lumbar diskectomy are being remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including her back and psychiatric conditions, render her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition, increased ratings for DJD of the lumbosacral spine, and radiculopathy of both lower extremities were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a direct relationship between his current conditions and service.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for sciatica of the right lower extremity and dismissed the earlier effective date claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU benefits.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his cervical spine disability was granted, and he is now rated at 20 percent effective January 31, 2011. The VA examiner found that the Veteran's range of motion in the cervical spine did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine, associated with right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity neuropathy, is not considered exceptional enough to warrant an extraschedular rating.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's cervical spine and left shoulder disabilities, including whether they are related to his service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a supplemental opinion from an examiner.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability is secondary to his service-connected foot and low back disabilities, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for increased ratings and service connection, among other issues. The Board found that the criteria for higher ratings were not met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA examinations and medical opinions to assess the severity of his service-connected thoracic spine disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, a new examination of his lumbar spine disability, and an opinion on whether he meets the criteria for TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine with myofascial pain and radiculopathy is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected conditions, including hip sprains and radiculopathy. The claims are being remanded for additional examinations to assess the current severity of his disabilities and for issuance of a Statement of the Case regarding higher initial ratings for scars and an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for low back disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and depressive disorder, sciatic radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, intervertebral disc syndrome (claimed as low back condition), scars, degenerative joint disease of both knees, degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder, hypertension, tinnitus, bilateral nasal pinquecula with dry eyes, hernia, ear pain, and erectile dysfunction, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that his service-connected disabilities alone are at least in equipoise as to whether he is unable to obtain or maintain such employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to procedural issues and insufficient development. The claims will be returned for further action.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine is currently rated at 20 percent, and his right foot drop, sciatica, and sciatic sensory radiculopathy are currently rated at 10 percent prior to January 23, 2015, and 20 percent since that date. The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings has been denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding whether any current cervical spine disorder or bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy is related to a service-connected condition.