Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2015

The Veteran's bilateral cubital tunnel syndrome was found to have manifested during service and is related to service. The cervical spine disability, including arthritis and degenerative disc disease, as well as cervical radiculopathy, are not currently addressed due to the need for a remand.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and TDIU was granted. For the period prior to June 10, 2010, lumbosacral strain with degenerative disease with L4-L5 disc protrusion and radiculopathy was rated as 10 percent disabling; from June 10, 2010, it is rated as 40 percent disabling.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a right lower extremity disability, which the Board has determined is not related to his active duty. The case is being remanded for further development and examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, back disability, upper and lower extremity disorders, loss of balance, memory loss, stroke residuals, abdominal aortic aneurysm, cancer of the face (basal cell carcinoma), and duodenal or pancreatic tumor. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's cervical radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities is found to be secondary to her service-connected residuals of fracture at C2 with degenerative joint disease, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected back disability and bilateral knee conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the underlying claims can be adjudicated on the merits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, thus granting his claim for TDIU.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a cervical spine disability and established service connection for left upper extremity radiculopathy. The rating assigned is 30%.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability and right leg radiculopathy are related to service, while his left hip and knee disabilities may be related to service or a separate incident. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any back or right sciatic nerve disorder related to service and thus denied these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's case requires further development due to incomplete medical records and a need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with spondylosis and degenerative joint and disc disease, including associated radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, is rated at 40 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disease of the lumbar spine, status post fusion L4-S1, is currently rated at 20 percent and her radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities are also rated at 20 percent each. The appeal for higher evaluations has been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and occupational experience from September 22, 2011.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for radicular pain of the right leg secondary to his service-connected muscular thoracic spine pain was reopened. The increased rating for muscular thoracic spine pain is granted.,Service connection for radicular pain of the right leg remains denied as it is not established that this condition is related to the Veteran's service-connected muscular thoracic spine pain.

The Veteran's lower extremity radiculopathy is granted as secondary to his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the thoracic spine with lumbar strain. The vitamin D deficiency and lumbar spine disorder appeals are dismissed due to withdrawal.

The Veteran's July 2011 surgery for a herniated disk was not considered treatment of his service-connected low back condition. The claim for an increased rating for the low back disability is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew it.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a reduction in ratings for cervical spine and upper extremity disabilities. The Veteran's claims are pending.