Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2015

The Veteran's low back disability is productive of left lower extremity radiculopathy, and the Board finds it at least as likely as not that his service-connected low back disability has caused left leg radiculopathy. The Veteran is granted a 10 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for updated examinations to assess his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected low back disability and left knee degenerative joint disease. The effective date for the grant of service connection for left knee degenerative joint disease is also being addressed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with a VA examination. The issues of increased disability ratings for her service-connected lower back condition and secondary service connection for urinary frequency are also being addressed.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim and found that new evidence supports a service connection for arthritis of the lumbar spine and left lower extremity radiculopathy, which are related to his in-service injury.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially-gainful occupation prior to December 11, 2009, effective July 23, 2003.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected back disability, and scheduling a VA Social Industrial Survey. The issues on appeal are an increased rating for intervertebral disc syndrome with sciatic nerve involvement and entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he requested to withdraw all his appeals except for the claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's lumbar spondylosis and associated radiculopathy were not rated higher than the assigned percentages, and SMC based on need for aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, shell fragment wounds, sciatic nerve injury, and abdominal wound, do not render him unemployable due to their combined effect on his ability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected diabetic neuropathy in both lower extremities.

The Board has determined that service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine with radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is granted. The claim for secondary service connection for residuals of stroke to include as secondary to service-connected low back disability is also granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his low back strain and radiculopathy of both lower extremities, finding that the evidence does not meet the criteria for a rating greater than those currently assigned.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left arm disorders are not related to his active military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board denied increased ratings for venereal warts, right fifth toe strain, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity. The Veteran's bilateral eye disability claim was remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted. The other issues have been dismissed as the appeal was withdrawn.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and degenerative disk disease, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The case is REMANDED for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected low back disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the Veteran's request for a videoconference hearing.