Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2017

The Veteran's left and right sciatic radiculopathy have been granted a disability evaluation of 40 percent each, effective May 1, 2016.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left leg disability is not related to his active service, including an in-service injury to the left leg. As such, the claim for service connection for a left leg disability is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability was aggravated by injuries incurred during periods of active duty for training and inactive duty for training, thus granting service connection.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the upper radicular group of the left upper extremity has been granted a noncompensable rating effective August 26, 2010. The Veteran is not entitled to an increased rating for this condition.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the superficial peroneal nerve of the left upper extremity was granted a noncompensable rating effective August 26, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and further medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA medical examination and readjudication of the claims.

The Veteran's lower extremity sciatica is found to be secondary to his service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current bilateral shoulder disability and grants service connection for it.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to changes in his symptomatology since the last VA examination, and these issues are inextricably intertwined with his radiculopathy and spine disability claims.

The Veteran's appeals for higher evaluations on several knee and back conditions have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected left lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that symptoms have been consistent with moderately severe incomplete paralysis throughout the appeal period.

The Board found that the Veteran's neuropathy of the lower extremities is related to his service-connected bilateral compartment syndrome, but denied service connection for neuropathy of the left upper extremity as there was no evidence linking it to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction and left lower extremity radiculopathy, effective February 1, 2012. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his cervical spine disability, right and left knee disabilities, as well as, service connection for erectile dysfunction are remanded to allow for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including tinnitus, a pulmonary condition, gout, degenerative arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and metabolic syndrome. The Board also found that there is no evidence of chemical exposure or TCE exposure to support these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral leg disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and left ear hearing loss. The Veteran was granted a noncompensable rating for his service-connected renal cell carcinoma of the left kidney since February 1, 2010, which was subsequently increased to 40 percent effective October 18, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected lower back strain has been rated at 10 percent since November 8, 2009. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on additional functional loss due to pain or other factors. Radiculopathy associated with the lower back strain was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral shin splints has been dismissed as the matter was granted in a July 2015 rating decision. The issue of LUE radiculopathy is being remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraine headaches, major depressive disorder, Crohn's disease, thoracolumbar strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and residuals of a scar post biopsy excision, preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The case is being remanded to the AOJ for further development, including consideration of new evidence and a thorough review of the Veteran's employability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine and radiculopathy in both lower extremities, preclude locomotion without the aid of a cane. The Board finds that this meets the criteria for specially adapted housing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further examinations. The issues of service connection for various foot, back, right hip, and left knee disabilities are under review.