Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2018

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim and granted service connection for benign schwannoma tumor, sciatic notch as due to herbicide exposure (Agent Orange).

The Veteran does not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and left hand radiculopathy are related to his service as a Naval Aviator. The lumbar spine disorder is not shown during service or within one year of separation, but is considered a natural progression of biomechanical injuries incurred in service.

The appeal is REMANDED to the AOJ for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claims.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical strain, degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder, and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities. The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to inextricably intertwined issues.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disorder has been granted, with a 40 percent evaluation effective August 24, 2017.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the spine is currently rated at 40 percent since September 16, 2015.,The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 20 percent since May 17, 2017.

The Veteran's bilateral radiculopathy of the lower extremities is found to be secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease. The claim for increased disability rating for the lumbar spine disorder and TDIU are granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected left knee and left lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations.

The Veteran's service connection claim for sciatica of the right lower extremity is granted as it is secondary to her already service-connected lumbar disability.

The Veteran is granted service connection for left hip DJD, status post left hip replacement.,Service connection is also granted for degenerative disc disease (DDD).,Left leg radiculopathy secondary to degenerative disc disease has been established as well.,Heart condition due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam is now service connected.,Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are both found to be related to service, with tinnitus being noted since service.,Hypertension, also linked to service exposure, has been granted service connection.,No specific rating or effective date was provided.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the criteria for entitlement to a TDIU are met.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and obtaining updated treatment records.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity was rated at 10 percent prior to April 18, 2014 and increased to 20 percent as of that date. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity was rated at 10 percent prior to April 18, 2014 and increased to 20 percent as of that date.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity has not met the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent prior to April 18, 2014. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity has not met the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent prior to April 18, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board grants TDIU.

For the period from August 13, 2015 to January 17, 2017, the Veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine did not warrant an increased rating higher than 20 percent.,From January 18, 2017 onwards, the Veteran's radiculopathy warranted a 40% rating for his right lower extremity and a 20% rating for his left lower extremity.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain updated medical records and to schedule a VA examination. The case will be reconsidered after the additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to November 24, 2014, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter for cervical strain, and ratings in excess of 10 percent for limitation of flexion of the right and left knees have all been denied.

The Veteran's currently diagnosed left upper extremity radiculopathy is proximately due to his service-connected C5/6 disc protrusion with flattening of the adjacent spinal cord, and therefore service connection for this condition has been granted.

The Veteran's appeal of the compensable evaluation for traumatic brain injury was withdrawn. The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy as these conditions are not related to service.