Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened and granted. The right lower extremity radiculopathy associated with the back disability is rated at 20 percent, while the left lower extremity radiculopathy remains at 10 percent. The TDIU issue is still pending.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for dry eye syndrome, lumbosacral strain with sciatica, and traumatic brain injury were denied. The Board found no evidence to support a direct relationship between the claimed conditions and active service.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no medical evidence supporting a current diagnosis of hearing loss.,The Veteran's claims for radiculopathy of the left upper and right upper extremities, as well as radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, are denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Veteran's chronic lumbosacral myositis and sciatica of the right and left lower extremities have been granted service connection, with a 10% disability rating for each condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back pain with sciatica is a result of an in-service injury, specifically falling off a tank while serving as a gunner. The service connection for this condition is granted.

The RO reduced the rating for diabetes mellitus type II from 40% to 20%, granted a higher rating for peripheral neuropathy of bilateral upper extremities, and granted an earlier effective date for TDIU. The reduction in diabetes mellitus rating is due to clear and unmistakable error (CUE).

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative changes of lumbar spine L4/L5 with herniated disk, sciatic paresthesias of the left and right lower extremities, and paresthesias of the right foot are all granted.,However, his claim for patellofemoral syndrome of the right or left knee is remanded as additional evidence is needed to determine if it was incurred in service or aggravated by a service-connected condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck disability, finding that it is not related to his service-connected right knee disability and does not meet the criteria for direct or secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates as there was no evidence of a valid claim prior to July 27, 2011. The effective date for his increased ratings and service connection will be set at July 27, 2011.

Your initial evaluations for left knee arthritis and right knee arthritis have been dismissed as you withdrew your appeals.,Your initial evaluation for acne to include scarring of face has been denied. The VA examiner found that the Veteran's acne does not warrant a higher than 30 percent rating based on the current evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee disorder, left knee disorder, left lower radiculopathy, and right lower radiculopathy. The Board found that there was no evidence showing a current disability related to these conditions and that any previous diagnoses were not shown within one year after separation from service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for her low back strain with osteoarthritis and service connection for right leg radiculopathy as secondary to her service-connected back strain. The Veteran needs updated VA treatment records, including the results of a March 2018 EMG/nerve conduction study, and a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence on whether the Veteran's current low back disability and sciatica are related to an in-service injury, specifically lifting a mortar base in March or April 1966.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to a lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease. The Veteran's TDIU rating and ratings for his back disability and bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including lumbar spine disorder, right knee disorder, headaches, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), bilateral upper and lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The issues remain on appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder disorder, lower back disorder, left knee disorder, and cervical radiculopathy. The evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred in or related to his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his in-service injuries. The issues of service connection for right and left knee disorders and Crohn’s disease have been remanded due to lack of verification of periods of active duty training.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional examinations and development of records. The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lower back disability, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and MDD) are still pending.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, left foot plantar fasciitis, and acquired psychiatric disorder (Generalized Anxiety Disorder) are granted. The Board has remanded the cases for additional development related to his chronic fatigue syndrome and restless leg syndrome.