Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for lumbar strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral pes planus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions or examinations.,The Veteran's claim for right lower extremity radiculopathy is also being remanded as it may be related to his service-connected lumbar strain and knee disorder.,The Veteran's claim for bilateral pes planus is being remanded because there is insufficient evidence regarding whether the condition was aggravated by service.,The Veteran's claim for hypertension is being remanded due to a lack of medical opinion on its etiology, as it may be related to his bladder disorder and sleep disorder.,The Veteran's claim for liver disorder is being remanded as it may be secondary to his bladder disorder.,The Veteran's claim for erectile dysfunction (ED) is being remanded because it may be caused by his hypertension or lumbar strain.,The Veteran's claim for kidney disorder is being remanded due to its potential relation to his hypertension and bladder disorder.,The Veteran's claim for bladder disorder is being remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding whether the condition was related to service or secondary to a bladder disorder.,The Veteran's claim for sleep disorder is being remanded because it may be related to his bladder disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and radiculopathy of the lower extremities due to inadequate examinations. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which are related to his military occupational specialty as a heavy equipment operator.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been denied. The VA has determined that the current evaluations of 10 percent are appropriate based on the evidence provided.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board granted the TDIU claim due to the combined effects of his disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence and need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand two issues: one regarding a higher rating for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and another for an initial higher rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity. The Veteran's last VA examinations were in November 2014, and the Board finds that new examinations are needed due to possible increased symptomatology since then.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back strain, left lower extremity radiculopathy/sciatica, and right lower extremity radiculopathy/sciatica due to a lack of evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder is denied due to lack of evidence supporting such a condition during or after his military service.,Service connection for lumbosacral spine degenerative joint disease was granted, but an initial disability rating higher than 10 percent prior to May 21, 2013 is not warranted based on the evidence provided.,Service connection for left knee medial meniscus tear with MCL bursitis was granted, but a higher initial disability rating than 10 percent is not supported by the evidence.,Service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, arising from lumbosacral spine degenerative joint disease, was granted. However, an earlier effective date of October 8, 2014, is not warranted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and lumbar radiculopathy (claimed as nerve damage) because there is no evidence that these conditions are related to his military service or any service-connected disability.

The Board has dismissed all claims due to the death of the Veteran's widow, as her appeal is no longer in a jurisdictional state.

The Board has remanded three issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities: DDD of the thoracolumbar spine, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and right foot hallux valgus with arthritis. The claims are being remanded for additional examinations and development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, fibromyalgia, depressive disorder with pain disorder, left lower extremity sciatica, and right lower extremity conditions have been remanded. The effective dates for the grant of service connection for depressive disorder with pain disorder have also been denied.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for linear scars of the chest and abdomen are still pending.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, and his right lower extremity radiculopathy and femoral radiculopathy are each rated at 20 percent. The depression rating remains at 70 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability, but denied service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability.,Service connection for sleep apnea is granted with an effective date prior to March 16, 2014.

The Board has decided to remand two issues related to the Veteran's spine and nerve conditions due to new evidence being added to the record, as well as the need for a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left wrist degenerative arthritis, depression, intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) lumbar spine with left leg radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. Service connection was denied for hepatitis C.

The Veteran's initial ratings for cervical spine disability and radiculopathy of the right upper extremity are being remanded due to insufficient evidence from recent examinations, which do not meet current VA examination requirements.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his thoracolumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome and sciatic nerve involvement of the left and right legs was denied.,The Veteran is not entitled to a rating higher than 40 percent for orthopedic manifestations of thoracolumbar spine IVDS, as there are no findings of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate VCAA notice and examination report, as well as incomplete records of VA treatment.