Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbosacral strain with radiculopathy is related to an in-service car accident, and thus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and associated left lower extremity radiculopathy are granted with a 40% rating from November 15, 2011.

The Board dismissed the appeals for initial compensable evaluations for bilateral knee scars. For the lumbar spine disability, a rating of 60 percent is granted from March 21, 2014, and all other claims are denied.

The Veteran's appeals for higher evaluations of his cervical spine, left and right upper extremity radiculopathy conditions were dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal. The Board also granted a TDIU effective prior to November 10, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination findings regarding the Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy, specifically in terms of joint range of motion and pain.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been evaluated at their current levels of 20% and 10%, respectively, and the Board has determined that these ratings are appropriate.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a neck disorder, low back disorder, left knee condition, right knee condition, kidney disorder, and sciatic nerve disorder of the left leg, have all been denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for radiculopathy of the left leg is remanded due to insufficient consideration of lay evidence and need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable prior to November 30, 2015. The Board has granted a TDIU for this period.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and rating increases have been dismissed due to her withdrawal of all pending claims.

The Board granted service connection for left and right leg radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected low back strain, effective from October 14, 2003.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar DDD and DJD, as well as right lower extremity radiculopathy, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his symptoms.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with history of right sciatica was reduced from a 20 percent rating to a 10 percent rating effective February 1, 2014. The Board found the reduction improper and restored the 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's chronic mechanical low back syndrome with degenerative joint disease, degenerative disc disease and right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted as service-connected. A 20% disability rating for the right ankle fracture with shortening of the right lower extremity remains in effect.

The Board has remanded the claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability and associated right lower extremity radiculopathy, as further development is required.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability characterized as degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) with lower left extremity radiculopathy, and spondylolisthesis. The appeal regarding bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine injury with degenerative joint disease and S1 radiculopathy of the left lower extremity are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraine headaches, sciatica of the left lower extremity, neurological damage of the bilateral lower extremities (restless leg syndrome and periodic limb movement), right knee disorder, left hip arthritis, and left knee chondromalacia patella. The claims are remanded for additional medical examinations to determine the current level of severity and any aggravation by service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for loss of use of both lower extremities due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, effective from June 2018. The appeal for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of extremities is also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent her from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to February 9, 2015.