Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine DDD and DJD, as well as his LLE radiculopathy, are related to his service. Reasonable doubt has been resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for various issues, including initial compensable rating for GERD and increased ratings for knee and cervical spine conditions. The reduction in the disability rating from 20 to 0 percent for left knee instability effective July 17, 2014 was found proper.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and effective dates were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings or earlier effective dates.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for neck disability, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran is unemployable due to her service-connected disabilities prior to July 2, 2013. The Board has granted an extraschedular TDIU based on the impact of her cervical spine disorders and associated radiculopathies.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU as his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, and his right and left lower extremity radiculopathies are each rated at 10 percent prior to May 26, 2015. The Board denied all claims for higher ratings.

The Board has granted a rating of 40 percent for radiculopathy of the right upper extremity since July 27, 2012 and a rating of 30 percent for radiculopathy of the left upper extremity since July 27, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been rated appropriately, with the exception of his persistent adjustment disorder which has resulted in a TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment for the entire appeal period.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current sciatic nerve impairment and right elbow disability to his service, thus denying these claims.,There is a lack of medical evidence showing that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment, or for adaptive equipment only.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a VA examination for his lumbar spine and radiculopathy disabilities, as well as another rating decision on the TDIU claim. The overactive bladder condition may be service-connected based on its secondary relationship to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's hypertension is related to his service-connected PTSD and type 2 diabetes. He does not have ischemic heart disease or any other heart disorder, nor has he had right lower extremity or left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for clarification of his income during the appeal period and further examination to determine workplace limitations.

The Board found that the Veteran's current cervical spine disability and ischemic heart disease are not service-connected, with no exposure to herbicide agents during service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for either condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development to consider the impact of his newly service-connected lumbar spine and associated radiculopathy on his ability to work.

The Board has remanded this case for a personal hearing or videoconference hearing in accordance with the Veteran's request.

The Board has granted secondary service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and assigned a separate 10 percent disability rating. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is found to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected lumbar spine and PTSD disabilities, warranting secondary service connection. Hemorrhoids are not service connected.