Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including additional VA examinations and the provision of a complete medical history to ensure accurate evaluations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis and right leg sciatica, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and her active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of current diagnoses or in-service incurrence or aggravation.,Service connection cannot be established as the Veteran did not provide any treatment records indicating he currently suffers from these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD is rated at 50 percent disabling since April 20, 2017. The other conditions have been rated appropriately based on their severity and impact on the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability did not originate in service, was not manifest within one year of discharge from service, and is not otherwise etiologically related to any period of active duty. The claims for secondary service connection for bilateral knee disability, neurological bilateral foot disability, and sciatic nerve disability have also been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back condition and right leg radiculopathy, effective November 22, 2002. The Veteran's original claim was denied in March 1992 due to lack of new evidence, but the claim was reopened based on additional service records received after January 1999.

The Veteran's knee and lumbar spine conditions have been rated based on their current severity.,No separate rating for left knee meniscectomy is warranted as the condition does not result in symptoms.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities is rated as moderate incomplete paralysis of the femoral nerve, warranting separate initial 20 percent ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease with radiculopathy in the lower extremities does not warrant a higher schedular rating as his range of motion and symptoms do not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depressive disorder and multiple musculoskeletal conditions, have rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since May 1, 2007.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been withdrawn. The remaining issues are remanded for further development and readjudication.

The Veteran was rendered unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities prior to October 2, 2014.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks due to symptoms such as sleep disturbance, depressed mood, and anxiety.,With reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran, his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including another VA examination to assess the current severity of his lumbar disability and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied as her service-connected disabilities did not present an exceptional or unusual disability picture prior to July 1, 2011, and they do not markedly interfere with employment after that date.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities was initially granted with a 10% rating effective March 6, 2012. The Board remanded for further increases in excess of 10 percent from July 1, 2014, which were granted at 20%. Prior to this date, the Veteran's radiculopathy was rated as mild.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his cervical spondylotic myelopathy, thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and associated radiculopathies have been denied. The RO has granted separate ratings for the upper and lower extremity radiculopathies.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a temporary total rating and service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim and that the radiculopathy was secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

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

The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn for his claims seeking service connection for a left ankle disability and increased ratings for his lumbar spine, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies, and bilateral knee disabilities. The Veteran is in need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities and has been granted special adapted housing.