Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,Service connection has not been established for the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining any gainful employment, and he is therefore denied a TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and radiculopathy of the lower extremities, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) effective November 29, 2012.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including ankle sprains, knee disorders, shoulder disorders, and neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The decision found no current disabilities that could be linked to service.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for lumbar spine DDD and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been denied. The issues of service connection for a left knee disability, a left eye disorder, and sleep apnea are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequacies of a prior VA examination and for further evidentiary development.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar degenerative arthritis and lower extremity radiculopathy are rated at 40 percent since February 9, 2010. The right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are each rated at 20 percent from February 9, 2010 to September 20, 2017, with the ratings for both conditions being denied as more than 20 percent since September 21, 2017.

The Veteran's preexisting migraine headaches are found to be aggravated by active service, and the claim for service connection is granted. The claims for bilateral lower extremity neuropathy involving the sciatic nerve, cervical spine disability, and acquired psychiatric disability are denied.

The Board has remanded several issues including increased ratings for hearing loss and PTSD, effective date claims, and service connection claims. The Veteran's appeal is currently pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development to obtain medical records and examinations related to his claimed disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar degenerative joint and disc disease, as well as bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service heavy lifting activities and current diagnosed conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a bilateral eye disability, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, gastrointestinal disorder, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and bilateral foot disability. The reasons include outstanding VA treatment records, need for addendum opinions on hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, gastrointestinal disorder, and bilateral foot disability, and remand for an examination to clarify lumbar radiculopathy.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The remaining claims on appeal are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than February 13, 2001 for the grant of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy and remanded his other claims due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity was denied. The initial rating for his radiculopathy and separate ratings for mood disorder with PTSD were also denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% since September 26, 2006. A 40% rating for his back disability is granted from January 26, 2006. Service connection for right and left leg radiculopathy secondary to the service-connected back disability is granted. Service connection for bladder disability and chronic urinary disability secondary to the service-connected back disability is also granted.

The Veteran's initial ratings for cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, and sciatic radiculopathy of the lower extremities have been denied. The Veteran's conditions are rated based on their direct service connection without any presumption or secondary theory.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and lower lumbar surgical scar are granted effective from October 29, 2010. The low back disability was granted earlier.

Service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, including depressive and anxiety disorders, is granted.,Service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy, headaches, hearing loss, and tinnitus are all denied. Service connection for degenerative disc disease is granted with a rating of 50 percent effective from April 5, 2016.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The conditions are found to be etiologically related to the Veteran's active military service.