Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2016

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining outstanding VA and Social Security Administration records. The Veteran's appeal is also inextricably intertwined with his petition to reopen a claim for service connection for a bilateral sciatic nerve strain.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and will consider all evidence before deciding on the claims.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being referred to the VA Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration due to his age and service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he is able to work despite his lumbar spine disability and other conditions. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of total occupational impairment due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for increased evaluations for his service-connected lumbosacral strain and post herpetic neuralgia has been dismissed as he is satisfied with the current evaluations assigned.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for an evaluation of 10 percent or higher for his hypertension. For the other claims, the evidence does not support a finding that any of the claimed conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosed lumbar degenerative disc disease is etiologically related to service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Board hearing due to his inability to attend the previously scheduled hearing.

The Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease and spondylosis are currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating available under the applicable diagnostic codes. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities and sleep disturbance, as well as his requests for earlier effective dates for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, as well as his claim for TDIU, are being remanded due to incomplete development. Additional evidence is needed including VA treatment records, workers compensation records, and private psychiatric examination reports.

The Veteran's claims were granted, with increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities. The initial ratings assigned are within the range of disability severity as determined by VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted increased ratings effective November 9, 2015. The lumbar spine is rated at 40 percent disabling, while the bilateral radiculopathies are each rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and sciatica of the lower extremities have been rated as 20 percent and 10 percent disabling, respectively. The increased ratings are granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of the record.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including updated VA examinations and obtaining treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn as to the issue of entitlement to a neck disorder or degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine with radiculopathy. The Board finds that the evidence supports service connection for neurological impairment of the bilateral upper extremities, including neuropathy, radiculopathy and carpel tunnel syndrome.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral degenerative disc disease and bilateral L5-S1 radiculopathy, but denied service connection for cervical spine muscle spasms, left upper extremity radiculopathy, carpal tunnel syndrome, osteoarthritis, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes.