Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, as his functional impairment does not preclude him from performing sedentary work.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The remaining issues were remanded for further examination and review.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, bilateral radiculopathy, and TDIU as there was no evidence of any in-service injury or disease that led to these conditions.

The Veteran's initial ratings for osteoarthritis and avascular necrosis of the left wrist (10%) and cervical radiculopathy of the right upper extremity (40%) are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a sciatic nerve disorder as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus between the two conditions.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a left knee disability, a left shoulder disability, a low back disability, and radiculopathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities as there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral disk disease (low back disability) and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.,The Board also denied secondary service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as it was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected low back disability.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee, right hip, left hip, right leg, and left leg disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The cervical spine and shoulder disabilities are denied.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151, service connection, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for further development.

The Veteran's right upper extremity radiculopathy is rated at 40% prior to September 23, 2015 and denied for a higher rating thereafter.,The Veteran's GERD is rated as non-compensable before April 27, 2016 and denied for a higher rating after that date.

The Veteran's radiculopathy in the left upper extremity is denied service connection. However, she was granted a 10% rating for her bilateral hammertoe with calluses, and separate 10% ratings were granted for each fifth digit surgery.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease was rated at 100 percent from February 1, 2012, to October 6, 2017.,The Veteran's postsurgical scars were rated at 10 percent beginning March 30, 2012. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, effective November 7, 2015. The right upper extremity radiculopathy remains rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for radiculopathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, as well as peripheral polyneuropathy, finding that there was no current diagnosis of these conditions. The Veteran's claims were remanded for further development regarding his peripheral polyneuropathy.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for cervical radiculopathy and lumbar radiculopathy, as well as increased evaluations for the Veteran's lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities. The left ankle disability claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's left sciatica is rated at 20 percent since September 24, 2014. The Board found that the symptoms are consistent with moderate incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for ankylosis and bilateral hearing loss has been withdrawn.,Service connection for periodontal disease (for compensation purposes) is denied as it cannot be considered a compensable disability.

The Veteran's left leg radiculopathy is rated at 20 percent from April 7, 2011 to October 19, 2016. A higher rating is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to inadequate recent examination records and outstanding VA treatment records.