Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disability is related to service, but requires further medical examination and opinion to determine if it was caused or aggravated by service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome in both wrists and sciatica/radiculopathy in both lower extremities due to insufficient evidence of current diagnoses.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete development and will be reconsidered after further development is completed.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for cervical sprain and radiculopathy of the left upper extremity are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that her current disabilities were not incurred in or caused by service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, right shoulder disorder, left lower extremity radiculopathy, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has determined that the VA etiological opinion is inadequate and requires additional examination to address all relevant in-service and current diagnoses, as well as the Veteran's reported history of chronic lower back pain.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected arm length discrepancy, nerve damage of the right forearm, spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine, and impingement of the sciatic nerve affecting the left and right lower extremities are being remanded due to inadequate examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to conflicting evidence, need for updated VA treatment records, and the requirement of a complete VA Form 21-8940 application.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher level of SMC for loss of use of bilateral hips was denied as he is already receiving the maximum rate of compensation authorized under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(p) for his loss of use of lower extremities.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, tinnitus, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, headaches, sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy (left upper extremity), peripheral neuropathy (right upper extremity), peripheral neuropathy (sciatic nerve, left lower extremity), peripheral neuropathy (sciatic nerve, right lower extremity), and peripheral neuropathy (femoral nerve, left lower extremity) are all denied. The Board has remanded the claims for these conditions.

The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy and lumbar spine disability were granted service connection, but the rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy prior to August 11, 2017 was not compensable. The Veteran is also entitled to TDIU due to his disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to that date.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as the VA needs to review his medical records and conduct a VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence and additional examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation as the last VA examinations were conducted in October 2014, which is considered too old to accurately assess his current condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of compliance with its February 2016 remand instructions regarding an addendum opinion from the Director of Compensation Service.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal on the issues of service connection for a cervical spine disability with radiculopathy, sinusitis, hyperhidrosis, and muscle spasms. As a result, these issues are dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches is denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service incurrence.

The Board denied service connection for right ankle disorder, right foot disorder (to include right foot tendonitis of the fibularis brevis), erectile dysfunction, right and left lower extremities neuropathy, and right and left lower extremities radiculopathy.,No current diagnoses were found by VA examiners for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for a higher disability rating and an earlier effective date for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records.