Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, hypertension and kidney disease secondary to service-connected lumbar strain, tinnitus, left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The decision also remanded his claim for service connection for headaches.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a lumbar spine condition and associated radiculopathy due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran will need to undergo further examination to determine if his conditions are related to service.

The Board has granted a 20% disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected left lower extremity radiculopathy. The claim is being remanded to obtain additional records and determine if the Veteran qualifies for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as the RO needs to refer the case to the VA Director of Compensation and Pension Service for consideration under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b) due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip disability and LLE radiculopathy, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claims.

The Veteran's right hip trochanteric bursitis and thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease with lumbar stenosis and radiculopathy are being remanded for further examination to determine if they are related to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the cases for further action due to incomplete or missing statements of the case.

The Board has denied the reopening of claims for service connection for various conditions, including low back disability, bilateral foot disability, shoulder disability, hip disability, knee disability, sciatic radiculopathy, and acquired psychiatric/mental disabilities. The July 1997 decision remains final regarding the low back disability claim.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with sciatica is found to have started during her military service and has been granted service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, and right and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to incomplete information in the June 2015 SOC. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional records and provide an addendum opinion regarding the cervical spine condition.

The Veteran's initial claim for increased ratings for degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine was denied, with a rating of 20% prior to June 5, 2018, and 40% thereafter. The Veteran also received an initial 20% rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity prior to June 5, 2018, but was denied a higher rating after that date.,The Board found no basis for increased ratings for either condition.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance was denied as entitlement to this benefit did not arise prior to March 11, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and PTSD have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.,For the issue of a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, the Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for such a rating based on his current symptomatology.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability was rated at 60 percent from October 3, 2005. The Board found no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis and granted a separate 10 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy. The case is remanded to determine if the Veteran should have received TDIU prior to June 29, 2000.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further development. The Veteran's low back disability, right leg sciatica, neck disability, and a disability of the right arm manifested by numbness are all under review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for his service-connected right and left lower extremity radiculopathies, as well as TDIU, need to be remanded due to procedural issues. The claims are being returned to allow for further development of the evidence and a new examination.

The Board has granted service connection for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the L5-S1.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, initial ratings for left and right lower radiculopathy, and TDIU were denied. The claim for service connection was reopened based on new evidence, but the rating for each condition remains at 10 percent.

The Board has denied service connection for emphysema, cervical spine radiculopathy, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The skin disability issue is remanded.,For the cervical spine radiculopathy claim, a new opinion is needed to determine if it is at least as likely as not related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip disability, low back disability, and left leg radiculopathy. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service.