Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for the provision of VA examinations to determine the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case to determine if the combined effects of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities warrant an extra-schedular disability rating, as the current schedular ratings do not adequately contemplate the collective impact of his conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating for service-connected hypertension and TDIU are denied. The claims for higher ratings for service-connected lumbar spine disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded.

The Veteran's back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy were evaluated, but the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes have not been met.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his service-connected left L5 radiculopathy and depressive disorder did not warrant evaluations in excess of 40 percent and 70 percent, respectively.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and PTSD, render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as herniated disc with radiculopathy and lumbar spondylosis, is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected left knee disability. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of bilateral cervical radiculopathy is causally related to his service-connected cervical strain, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's neck injury, left knee DJD, and chondromalacia patella conditions.,The current ratings of 20%, 10%, and 10% remain unchanged.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the current nature and severity of his service-connected lumbar spine DDD and lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left hip degenerative arthritis and lumbar strain, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right leg and hip disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a causal relationship between his current conditions and his military service or any service-connected condition. The Board also found insufficient medical opinion regarding the Veteran's ulcer disease claim.

The Board has granted service connection for a headache disorder and denied the remaining issues on appeal. The Veteran is now entitled to increased ratings for his PTSD with alcohol abuse, tinnitus, traumatic brain injury, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome.

The Veteran's right arm pain, including tendonitis and carpel tunnel syndrome, is service-connected.,Service connection for fatigue due to viral infections (EBV) is granted.,Radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities secondary to a service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability is also granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease with lumbar scoliosis and left lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as his claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, were denied. The evidence did not show the required functional impairment or other criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of his low back strain disability was denied, and he is also denied a TDIU. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for the Veteran's cervical spondylosis with radiculopathy, either as directly related to his military service or secondary to his service-connected cold injury residuals. The preponderance of the evidence does not support these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral lumbar radiculopathy is proximately due to his service-connected low back strain and grants service connection for this condition.