Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and paralysis of sciatic nerve condition were denied as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and right knee tendonitis have been reopened. The VA has remanded these issues for further development.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability, right leg radiculopathy, and sinusitis have also been remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional records from SSA and VA.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for post-operative residuals of a lumbar laminectomy and discectomy from April 5, 2016 was denied as the evidence did not show unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy associated with status post lumbar laminectomy and discectomy from June 1, 2012 was also denied because the disability did not meet the criteria for moderately severe incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve.

The Veteran's claim for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation was remanded due to the lack of loss of use in either lower extremity. The effective date for increased rating Crohn's disease remains January 15, 2008.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of service connection for sciatic nerve disorder, including as secondary to lumbar facet joint arthropathy and disc disease due to insufficient reasoning in a previous VA medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial rating higher than 20 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy and entitlement to a TDIU, as well as the issue of whether an earlier effective date is warranted for the grant of a separate 20 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy. The claims are still pending before the RO.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his thoracolumbar spine condition is dismissed. The Board has also granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the current disability likely began during active service.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the sciatic and femoral nerves in both lower extremities has been rated at 10 percent prior to November 2, 2018, and 20 percent thereafter. The Board found that a higher rating was not warranted based on the evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate examination reports and missing records. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as a TDIU claim, are now pending.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings were denied.,No new evidence or arguments were provided to support these claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine and DDD of the cervical spine were dismissed by the Board in May 2014. The appeals are without legal merit, and must be dismissed.,Effective dates prior to July 10, 2003, for service connection of radiculopathy of the right lower extremity and radiculopathy of the left upper extremity were denied. Effective dates of August 16, 2006, but no earlier, for these disabilities were granted.,The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity prior to October 25, 2012, and from October 25, 2012, was denied.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings and initial rating issues have been remanded due to the need for further examination and evaluation.

The Veteran's lumbago with disc bulge at L3 L4 and L4 L5 was granted a rating of 40 percent effective as of February 28, 2018. A separate 10 percent rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity associated with this condition is also granted.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is granted an initial disability rating of 20 percent, and no higher.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine with neuropathy and tinnitus are granted. The diagnoses were established during a presumptive period following his Gulf War service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete information and need for further medical examination. The issues include lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability with left lower extremity radiculopathy, but denied service connection for hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or service connection, except for remanding one issue.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 20 percent, effective October 24, 2007. The appeal for service connection and separate evaluations for sleep apnea and lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded.