Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for radiculopathy of the right and left upper extremities have been granted but are moot due to the grant.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for rectal outlet dysfunction (IBS) has been denied as there is no CUE in the August 2009 rating decision.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability remains rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine arthritis with sciatica, left knee disability, and right foot disability as there was no evidence of a current disability or link to service.,There is no current diagnosis of a left knee or right foot disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 60 percent for sciatica, to include left foot drop and extraschedular consideration, as well as his claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The case will be referred back to the Director, Compensation Service, for an opinion regarding whether an extraschedular rating was warranted for the Veteran's sciatica, to include left foot drop, prior to his death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions. The issues include service connection for a low back disability, bilateral knee disabilities, radiculopathy, onychomycosis of the toenails, and a skin disorder (claimed as peeling skin on fingers).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions regarding the relationship between his low back disability and sciatic nerve condition, as well as secondary service-connected neck disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate examinations and need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is rated at 20 percent and effective as of February 11, 2015.

For the initial rating period from June 10, 2010 to April 3, 2016 (excluding two periods of a temporary total rating), a 40 percent rating for DDD of the lumbar spine is granted.,For the initial rating beginning April 4, 2016, a rating in excess of 40 percent for DDD of the lumbar spine is denied.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy disability is remanded for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed for the Veteran's bilateral knee and right leg disabilities, as well as his spinal disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The issues of service connection and TDIU have also been remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine, left shoulder, and left leg disabilities due to a lack of medical evidence showing an increase in severity.

The Veteran's appeal of the effective dates for ratings assigned for radiculopathy of his bilateral lower extremities is denied. The appeal of ratings assigned for radiculopathy of his bilateral lower extremities is also denied.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates of November 17, 2015 for the grant of service connection for right upper extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to March 7, 2017 has been remanded.

The Veteran's claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities was denied because the effective date of February 1, 2018 is not earlier than that date.

The Board denied service connection for radiculopathy, finding that the evidence did not support a current disability or a link to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including OSA, PLMD and RLS, lung disability, and left lower extremity radiculopathy, are granted. The Veteran is also granted a TDIU from November 28, 2017.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's reports of a worsening cervical spine disability and related symptoms require an updated VA examination. The issues include rating adjustments for various disabilities, including those affecting the upper extremities, shoulders, head, and jaw.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased initial evaluation of his service-connected left L5-S1 radiculopathy is dismissed. The Board also remanded the issue of whether he should be granted service connection for a left knee meniscal tear.

The Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease, status post lumbar fusion and disc surgery is currently rated at 40 percent disabling beginning July 30, 2019. The Veteran's radiculopathy of right lower extremity was granted an increased rating to 20 percent effective June 17, 2019. The Veteran's radiculopathy of left lower extremity is rated at 20 percent effective June 17, 2019.