Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2017

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent, which adequately reflects the severity of his condition.,The Veteran's right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are both currently rated at 40 percent each, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, as well as a new VA examination to assess the severity of her left leg sciatic radiculopathy.

The Veteran's headaches are rated at 50 percent since the beginning of the appeal period, and he is granted a TDIU prior to September 11, 2015.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral degenerative disc disease with radiculopathy, left hip replacement residuals, and right hip replacement residuals. The claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral flat feet, pneumonia, bilateral hearing loss, left knee anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction residuals, right knee degenerative joint disease, and tinnitus have been dismissed due to lack of jurisdiction upon the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent prior to August 10, 2010, and at 40 percent thereafter. His subjective bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy is also rated at 40 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his right femur fracture was not caused by carelessness or negligence on the part of VA medical facility. The Board also found no evidence supporting a claim under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The TDIU claim will also be considered.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed left leg disability, including left foot drop syndrome and left lumbar sensory-motor radiculopathy, is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU, to include on an extra-schedular basis, for the period prior to April 26, 2013 was denied by the Board.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 20 percent, and his right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are each rated at 10 percent. These ratings have been granted.

The Veteran's low back disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy have not been found to warrant a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria. The Board has determined that there is no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes for the left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran seeks compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for left lower extremity neurological impairment he contends that he suffered as a result of a left hip replacement on November 29, 2005 at the VA Medical Center in Columbia, South Carolina.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease is currently rated at 20 percent, and his right lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 10 percent. The left lower extremity radiculopathy has not been evaluated as a separate condition.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine and lumbar radiculopathy, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations, treatment records, and further development of his service-connected lumbar spine and left lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted. The Veteran is now entitled to increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and mood disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining inpatient treatment records from Saigon Hospital and private medical records. The claim of service connection for a low back disability will be addressed, as well as the issue of an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy on a secondary basis to the Veteran's service-connected cervical and lumbar degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is not shown to have been manifested by limitation of forward flexion to 30 degrees or less or ankylosis.