Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) at T-7 and T-8 of the lumbar spine as secondary to service-connected residuals of fracture at T-5 and T-7. The issues of radiculopathy of the right lower extremity and numbness of the left lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded for further action.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU on an extra-schedular basis.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability and peripheral neuropathy have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to July 1, 2015. The Board has granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left and right knee replacements, lumbar degenerative disc disease, plantar fasciitis, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. His TDIU claim is granted effective October 1, 2009.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a psychiatric disorder and multiple musculoskeletal conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU claim based on these conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is being remanded for a supplemental VA opinion to address his in-service back injuries and current condition.

The Veteran's appeal seeking to reopen a previously denied service connection claim for hypothyroidism was dismissed. Service connection for right ear hearing loss and lumbar degenerative disc disease were granted, but the issue of right leg radiculopathy is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, to include lumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD), degenerative joint disease (DJD), facet joint syndrome (FJS), facet arthropathy, polyradiculopathy, and spondylosis is granted. The case is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board found that there is no evidence linking the Veteran's current neurological condition of the bilateral upper extremities to his military service, and thus denied his claim.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for neck disability, left breast disability, cervical radiculopathy, and coronary artery disease (CAD). The cases are remanded to obtain VA examinations to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability and radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities are not service connected, as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for intervertebral disc disease with protrusion of L4-L5 is denied. A separate 10 percent disability rating is granted for left lower radiculopathy effective January 21, 2015. The claim for reopening service connection for ulcerative colitis is remanded.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a chronic low back strain has been reopened and granted. The Board found that the current diagnosis of chronic low back strain is related to an in-service injury, and thus grants service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity do not render him unemployable for substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for chronic rhinitis with recurrent sinusitis is denied. From September 1, 2013, but not before, the Veteran is granted a TDIU based on her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective May 23, 2017 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, and he is granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the severity of the Veteran's back disability during flare-ups.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for various conditions, including coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathies of the upper and lower extremities, and PTSD, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher disability ratings in any of these cases.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation at the housebound rate from August 31, 2010 to November 1, 2011. The Veteran also does not qualify for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.