Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeals regarding the ratings for degenerative disc disease at L5-S1, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been withdrawn.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and residuals of a right foot injury. The claim for a headache disorder is pending.,Service connection was also granted for a chronic bilateral knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining SSA records and updating the family income calculation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for degenerative disc disease with radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, and no decisions were made on the merits of any claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were granted, with the lumbar spine DDD rated at 20 percent effective March 10, 2009. The radiculopathy of both lower extremities was each assigned a 20 percent rating effective March 10, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is unrelated to any current disability. The claims for higher ratings for asthma, lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative disc disease and arthritis, right lower extremity sciatic nerve impairment, left lower extremity sciatic nerve impairment, and bilateral foot sprain are denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities have been denied. The VA has not provided a rating in excess of the current assigned disability ratings.,The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine, left ankle, right knee with degenerative changes, and left knee conditions do not meet or approximate criteria warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the ratings in excess of 10 percent for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and for status post lumbar laminectomy and discectomy of L5-S1 with chronic pain syndrome and right leg radiculopathy, excluding periods of temporary 100 percent ratings.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities has been granted initial ratings in excess of 20 percent prior to January 5, 2015 and in excess of 30 percent from that date forward.

The Veteran's cervical sprain is rated at 20 percent, and his right upper extremity radiculopathy is rated at 40 percent. The TDIU claim was not addressed in this decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability and generalized anxiety disorder are related to service, granting service connection for these conditions. The prostate disability and bilateral sacroiliac joint pain issues remain pending.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability with associated bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation during the appeal period prior to December 12, 2013. From December 12, 2013 to September 30, 2015, he was unable to secure and follow such an occupation due to his lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the propriety of the disability ratings assigned for her service-connected lumbar spine and left leg conditions.

The Board denied service connection for scoliosis, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities as there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease that led to these conditions.

The Veteran is entitled to a rating of 70 percent for cervical radiculopathy of the right arm prior to September 23, 2014, and no higher.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability and sciatic nerve disability were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and denied both claims.

The Veteran's claim for secondary service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with bilateral radiculopathy is granted. The claims for higher initial evaluations for other conditions remain denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative disc disease lumbosacral spine and associated radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities are being remanded due to additional evidence received after the last Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).