Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition, including DDD/DJD of the thoracolumbar spine with radiculopathy, finding that there is no nexus between his current disability and his active service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient consideration of recent evidence and inadequate VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to July 9, 2013 for service connection of hypertension and recurrent major depressive disorder are being remanded due to the lack of a Statement of the Case (SOC). The remaining issues related to his bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, cervical spine disability, hip disabilities, heel disabilities, and cyst on the buttocks are also being remanded.

The Veteran's request for a rating in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected left arm limitation of motion is remanded. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a right knee condition, left hand and/or thumb condition, and sciatic nerve impairment of the left lower extremity are also remanded.,The Veteran's request for TDIU is inextricably intertwined with his pending claims and thus is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cervical spine condition, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy as secondary to his service-connected cervical spine condition. The rating for the cervical spine condition is restored from December 6, 2012.

The Board denied service connection for a lower back disability and a sciatic nerve disability, right lower extremity as the appellant's periods of service were under other than honorable conditions due to his Bad Conduct Discharge.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the need for additional medical records and examinations. The Veteran's service in the Persian Gulf War is also being considered.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and denied earlier effective dates for erectile dysfunction, left lower extremity sciatica, and right lower extremity sciatica. The claims were remanded for further development.

The Veteran's L1 compression fracture and radiculopathy of the lower extremities were denied as his symptoms did not warrant a higher rating under the applicable VA guidelines.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C has been reopened, and the claim is granted. The claims for service connection for tinnitus, migraine headaches, adjustment disorder with depressed mood, degenerative arthritis of the right knee, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy are all denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his lumbar spine and left lower extremity radiculopathy conditions, prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to September 1, 2016. The Board granted the TDIU claim.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection on all issues except nonservice-connected pension, which was also withdrawn.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a rib injury/chest contusion and his TDIU claim because there is no evidence of current disability related to the in-service injury. The combined rating for his service-connected disabilities does not meet the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bowel and bladder conditions, as well as increased ratings for lumbar spine disability prior to February 1, 2011, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis or relationship between the claimed conditions and service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 50% rating effective October 29, 2012. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded for further review.

The Board has determined that the reduction in ratings for radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities was proper, and denied increased ratings for the right and left upper extremities.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and left leg numbness/radiculopathy, finding that the conditions were not related to military service or service-connected knee arthritis.

The Board dismissed all appeals related to prostate cancer, right index finger deformity with ankylosis prior to February 23, 2015, painful scar residual of a chin laceration, disfiguring scar residuals of a chin laceration, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and degenerative disc disease and spondylosis of the lumbar spine. The Veteran's combined rating for these service-connected disabilities is 80 percent.

The Veteran's disability ratings for headaches and radiculopathy of the left upper extremity were restored to their previous levels, effective February 2, 2012.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, increased ratings for lumbar spondylosis and associated radiculopathy, an effective date earlier than September 14, 2010 for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, and initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claims for tinnitus and pseudofolliculitis barbae were also denied.