Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions regarding the relationship between his current disabilities and his military service. The issues include cervical spine, lumbar spine, throat condition (GERD), sleep apnea, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the cases due to conflicting medical opinions and the need for a VA medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy and his service, including herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to find and follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds it at least equipoise that he is unable to secure such employment.

The Board has granted service connection for sciatic nerve compression of the bilateral lower extremities as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The claim for PTSD remains pending and remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a left leg disorder, lumbar spine disorder with radiculopathy, sciatic nerve disorder, and cervical spine disorder has been denied.,Service connection was not granted as the evidence did not show that the Veteran had any current disability related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with IVDS and spinal stenosis. The remand includes requesting additional medical records, including a May 30, 2006 treatment note from UPMC Passavant Hospital, and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim from November 1, 2015 through December 14, 2015 was granted. The left knee disability rated as 10% prior to December 15, 2015 is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings and service connection due to lack of evidence showing an increase in disability prior to May 22, 2015.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including knee and back conditions, radiculopathy, ankle disability, and limitation of extension. The Veteran is also being asked to provide additional information regarding his need for aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his lumbar DDD was denied. A separate 10 percent rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is granted, effective May 12, 2010. The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the service-connected lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis. The appeal regarding bilateral hip disorders and psychiatric disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's sciatica of the left lower extremity is granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine arthritis. The Veteran's prostate disorder, including residuals from prostate cancer, and hip disorders are denied due to lack of evidence showing in-service onset or continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, right knee replacement, back disability, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, left knee strain, and hypertension, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the issues of increased ratings for the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right lower extremity radiculopathy, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), left sciatic nerve dysfunction, and degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine with IVDS. The effective date for any award is not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for his service-connected radiculopathy of the lower extremities are being remanded due to a lack of recent VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for a 60 percent rating for his service-connected RLE sciatic nerve injury and for entitlement to a TDIU are denied as there is no evidence of increased disability within the one-year look-back period prior to August 19, 2014.

The Board has remanded three issues: increased rating for shell fragment wound of the left thigh, service connection for a low back disorder, and service connection for bilateral radiculopathy of the lower extremities. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations for these issues.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status is remanded due to a lack of examination focusing solely on her service-connected disabilities. She needs an opportunity to be examined by a VA clinician.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, lumbar spine and knee degenerative joint disease, tendon repair of the right wrist, hypertension, headaches, and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted TDIU benefits.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is currently rated at 20 percent, and remains denied for an increased rating.,For migraines prior to March 12, 2014, a 30 percent rating has been granted. However, from that date onwards, the Veteran's claim for an increased rating was denied.