Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2015

The Veteran was granted service connection for radiculopathy of the right upper extremity and residuals of a fracture of the right great toe with degenerative joint disease, effective March 18, 2010. The rating assigned is 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral eye disability and denied entitlement to an increased evaluation for low back disability. The Veteran's current eye disability is not related to his military service, while the low back disability was found to be at least as likely as not incurred in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's spouse does not meet the criteria for an aid and attendance allowance as her disabilities do not render her unable to care for her daily needs without requiring the regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities did not manifest in service or within one year of service, and are not otherwise related to service.,The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis for radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities or sciatica of the lower extremities.,The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities did not manifest in service or within one year of service, and are not otherwise related to service.,After affording the benefit of the doubt, a current headache disability is related to service.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar paravertebral myositis from October 31, 1994, and denied ratings higher than 10 percent for right leg S1 radiculopathy and left leg peripheral neuropathy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, as well as voiding dysfunction. The issues were remanded to consider whether entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease was reasonably raised by the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability with radiculopathy is etiologically related to her active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear for a scheduled hearing. The case will be processed again after scheduling the Veteran for a videoconference hearing at the RO.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if her service-connected disabilities prevent her from securing or maintaining all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spinal stenosis and left lumbar radiculopathy is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims due to an inadequate examination and a need for further medical opinion regarding the etiology of radiculopathy in the lower extremities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to obtain outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as an orthopedic/neurologic examination to assess the current severity of his lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred on October 9, 2012 at St. Vincents Medical Center Southside were not reimbursable because the services were not authorized in advance by VA and there was no emergency requiring immediate attention.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 40 percent for left lower extremity sciatic neuropathy since May 29, 2012 was denied as there is no evidence of severe incomplete paralysis with marked muscular atrophy or complete paralysis.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy were granted increased ratings of 40 percent each, effective from the date an increase in severity was warranted. The TDIU claim is denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing his claims for higher ratings for low back disability and associated bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for increased ratings and a TDIU. The Board has determined that the TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with his right knee disabilities, which require additional VA examinations to assess their current severity.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals of the increased rating claims for lumbar strain and left lower extremity radiculopathy before a decision was made.