Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding treatment records and procedural errors. The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his low back disability will be reconsidered after obtaining all relevant medical records.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as service-connected.,There is no evidence of current left lower extremity radiculopathy or right lower extremity radiculopathy, and the claim for these conditions is denied.,The Veteran's right shoulder condition due to undiagnosed illness is not granted as there are no objective indications of a qualifying chronic disability in his right shoulder.,The Veteran's current rating for insomnia remains at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and adjudication due to incomplete records and need for updated opinions from VA examiners.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for various conditions and the effective date of TDIU. The Veteran's right knee total arthroplasty remains rated at 60 percent.

The Veteran's lumbar disability is granted service connection, and his sleep apnea claim is remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for occipital neuralgia and denied increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, cervical strain, migraines, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and right upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, upper left arm nerve disorder, and right leg nerve disorder (radiculopathy) due to lack of a VA examination. The Veteran is presumed to have suffered from these conditions during his military service.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for various service connection claims, including those related to coronary artery disease with valvular heart disease and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity. The Veteran's claim for right upper and left upper extremity radiculopathy was also denied as there is no evidence of such in the one-year period prior to November 3, 2011.

The Veteran was granted TDIU from August 1, 2009 and prior to October 31, 2016 due to his service-connected back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy. The Board found that the Veteran's disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation during this period.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, effective February 6, 2014. The rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity (sciatic nerve) remains at 20 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have not been productive of total occupational and social impairment, but his other service-connected conditions have resulted in a 100 percent evaluation due to their combined effect on his ability to work.

The Veteran's intervertebral disc disease is granted a 40% evaluation, and his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities are currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board has determined that these conditions do not warrant a higher rating due to mild symptoms.,The Veteran’s service connection claims for sleep disturbances, fibromyalgia, shoulder disabilities, hearing loss, cervical spine strain, knee retropatellar pain syndrome, PTSD, major depression and alcohol abuse, and lumbosacral strain are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy, but the issues of higher evaluations and TDIU are remanded due to need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, cervical radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, and major depressive disorder has been denied.,Service connection was not granted as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service occurrence of these conditions.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding a higher rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's increased ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy have been denied as the evidence does not show incapacitating episodes or moderate to severe symptoms.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a TDIU rating. The AOJ should request any outstanding medical records and lay statements from the Veteran to support his claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for cervical spine disability, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), and higher rating for low back pain with radiculopathy due to incomplete development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to comply with previous remand directives.