Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and reopening of service connection were denied. The left knee disability was rated at 10 percent, with no higher rating possible due to flexion limitation. A separate 10 percent rating was granted for instability. Service connection for right knee disorder and low back disorder could not be reopened based on the evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, and hip disabilities did not manifest in service or within one year following separation from service.,Service connection was denied for all claimed conditions as they are not shown to be related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating for his right great toe or cervical spine disabilities. The effective dates for the awards of service connection for radiculopathy and TMJ disability were granted, but not earlier than April 6, 2010.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for right leg pain, including right-sided sciatica, and finds that it is at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's military service. The evidence supports a finding of service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left leg disability other than radiculopathy (claimed as a left leg blood circulation condition) is denied.

The Board determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy do not warrant increased ratings prior to or since August 12, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantial gainful employment. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against a finding that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by her attorney prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's back disability, rated as intervertebral disc syndrome with bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, is currently assigned a 60 percent rating effective since April 5, 2017. The claim for an increased rating prior to that date remains denied.

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

The Board has determined that service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy is granted as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability, left and right lower extremity radiculopathies were granted increased ratings. The Veteran is currently rated at 40 percent for his low back disability and 10 percent each for his left and right lower extremity radiculopathies prior to April 23, 2015.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn, and the cases are dismissed.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease lumbosacral spine with herniated disc pulposus L5-S1 is currently rated at 20 percent, effective November 26, 2008. The Veteran has been granted a higher rating for this condition.,The Veteran's left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy is currently rated at 10 percent, effective April 19, 2017. The Veteran was previously granted service connection for this condition in July 2017 and has not been awarded a higher rating.,The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is currently rated as non-compensable.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for low back degenerative disk disease with right lower extremity radiculopathy and assigned a 10% initial rating. The hearing loss claim was withdrawn by the Veteran prior to decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new examination to assess his ability to maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbar strain and radiculopathy of the lower extremities have been rated based on their current severity, with no additional ratings granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment for the entire appellate period prior to May 31, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right lower extremity sciatica were denied. The effective date was not established as the issues are related to the current disability status.