Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim of PTSD was reopened and granted service connection with an effective date of June 30, 2014. The claims for increased ratings for depressive disorder and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity were remanded.

The Board has remanded four issues related to service connection: lumbar strain and sprain, right ankle condition, bilateral hearing loss, and sciatica of the right lower extremity. The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was previously granted in a January 2018 rating decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation from December 25, 2008 to July 9, 2012. The Board has remanded the issue of TDIU for further review.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is remanded due to the need for further examination.,Service connection has been granted for tinnitus, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Veteran's claim for a bilateral hand/fingers disorder, cervical spine disorder, cervical radiculopathy of the left arm, and cervical radiculopathy of the right arm have all been denied.,Service connection has also been denied for hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal for chronic diarrhea was dismissed as he withdrew the claim during his hearing.,His appeals for hypertension and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity were also dismissed due to lack of timely substantive appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development due to incomplete service treatment records, specifically those from Fort Gordon where he was injured in October 1988.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before a decision on the merits may be made regarding the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected lumbosacral spondylolisthesis with sciatic nerve involvement and IVDS, and service-connected sciatica. The Veteran was last provided a VA examination relating to his conditions in July 2015, over three years ago. A new VA examination is required so that the current nature and severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities may be determined.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in the initial rating decision and the need for further development regarding accrued benefits claims.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not linked to service or a service-connected disability.,Service connection was also denied for an initial rating higher than 20 percent for spondylosis of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine is rated at 20% and his left lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 10%. The Board granted a separate rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy. TDIU was granted effective March 18, 2009.

The Board has ordered a new examination for the Veteran's lumbar herniated disc with IVDS and spondylosis, as well as right lower extremity radiculopathy. The previous examinations did not adequately address the Veteran's complaints of flare-ups and their impact on his disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to insufficient examination reports and need for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back and right leg disabilities, finding that these conditions began during his military service and are related to his service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine strain, sciatica of the left lower extremity, and sciatica of the right lower extremity are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations that comply with VA examination guidelines.

The Veteran's service-connected skin disability, including allergic dermatitis and xerosis cutis, is confirmed. The Board also granted service connection for this condition. Other issues are remanded for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, right foot hallux valgus, and PTSD. Service connection was denied for a left foot disability.

The Board has granted service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, finding it proximately due to a service-connected lumbar spine disability. The other issues on appeal are remanded.

The Veteran's back disability, scars from spinal surgery, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are rated based on their severity. The rating for the back disability is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,A compensable rating (10%) has been granted for the Veteran’s painful and unstable scars.

The Board has determined that the award of service connection for right upper extremity radiculopathy was clearly and unmistakably erroneous, and thus severed. The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits are remanded.