Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that a new medical opinion is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection, including consideration of lay statements and in-service symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss as defined by VA and that it is related to his military service. For the low back disorder, the Veteran's claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its onset in service or relation to military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a need for another videoconference hearing. The issues of increased evaluations for low back disability and radiculopathy are still under consideration.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing. The issues of service connection for various conditions are still pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disorder is related to his military service, including carrying heavy equipment and weapons. The remaining claims for other conditions are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional treatment records and a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and back disability with radiculopathy were not incurred or aggravated during his military service, and thus denied these claims.

The Veteran's combined rating for his service-connected disabilities is 80%, meeting the threshold percentage requirements for a TDIU. However, despite this, VA medical opinions indicate that the Veteran's service-connected conditions do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including psychiatric disorders, musculoskeletal issues, eye problems, and gastrointestinal issues. The Board has determined that further medical examination and opinion are necessary to address the nature and etiology of these claims.,The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus have also been remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy are related to an injury sustained during his INACDUTRA period, and thus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's conditions, including diabetes and its related complications, are not service connected. The Board denied the claims for service connection based on lack of evidence showing onset or causation in service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining VA and SSA records, conducting examinations, and reviewing the medical evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development as the evidence of record does not contain sufficient competent medical evidence to decide the claims, and more recent VA medical records suggest that his disorders may have worsened since a previous examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbosacral spine, cervical spine, and radiculopathy disabilities are not related to his military service or any service-connected disability. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 10 percent, effective January 1, 2007. He also has a compensable evaluation for associated left lower extremity radiculopathy since August 24, 2015.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities did not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 10 percent prior to November 22, 2011.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing at an appropriate RO, taking into consideration his request to have the hearing scheduled closer to his address.

The Board granted an initial increased rating of 70 percent for PTSD, effective May 14, 2010. Effective November 8, 2011, the Veteran is entitled to a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability and there is no evidence of such during service. The VA examination did not reflect hearing loss as defined by VA regulations, but a March 2014 private audiogram showed bilateral hearing loss. However, this private audiogram was uninterpreted and the Board finds that the VA examinations are more persuasive. There is insufficient evidence linking the Veteran's current hearing loss to service.