Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder and remanded the issues of sleep apnea, right lower extremity radiculopathy, neck condition (low back condition), left lower extremity radiculopathy, and left ankle strain.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of left lower extremity, and radiculopathy of left upper extremity.

The Board has granted service connection for spondylosis of the lumbar spine and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to this condition.

The Veteran's back condition is granted a 20 percent evaluation for the period prior to December 16, 2011. The Veteran's higher evaluations are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbar spine and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy conditions due to inadequate examination reports. The issues of entitlement to SMC are also being remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the other issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate development of evidence, including scheduling of VA examinations.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 10 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,Both his right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve disabilities are currently rated at 20 percent each, as they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran had bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and if it is related to his in-service back injury. Service connection for chronic low back pain was granted.

The Veteran's service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy, low back disability, right knee and fibula disability, right ankle disability, and bilateral pes planus is granted. Initial ratings of 10% are assigned for each condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip and leg disorders due to insufficient medical opinions. The case will be returned for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a qualified orthopedic physician.

The reduction of the rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity from 40 percent to 0 percent, effective September 1, 2017 was proper. The Veteran's entitlement to an increased rating in excess of 10 percent from September 1, 2017 is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's requests for effective dates prior to January 22, 2016 for service connection and increased ratings of his disabilities. The issues have been remanded due to a lack of VA treatment records from the relevant period.

The Veteran's low back disability, right leg radiculopathy, and left leg radiculopathy have been granted ratings. The Veteran is also granted total disability based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine disability, right upper extremity radiculopathy (formerly carpal tunnel syndrome), and left upper extremity radiculopathy have been denied. The VA has determined that the current evaluations adequately reflect the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his low back disability was received on August 22, 2014. Service connection for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity as secondary to the service-connected low back disability was granted effective from that date.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbosacral spine disability and neurological disorder of the right lower extremity involving the sciatic nerve are being remanded due to incomplete development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral upper extremity diabetic neuropathy and cervical radiculopathy, but denied service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome.

Service connection is granted for lumbar DJD and DDD, right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to DJD and DDD. The Board also found that the Veteran's heart disorder, prostate disorder, and hearing loss claims are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for separate compensable ratings for neurologic abnormalities other than radiculopathy (to include bowel or bladder problems) as there is no current diagnosis of such conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, left lower extremity radiculopathy, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), erectile dysfunction (ED), and residuals of a chemical burn and abrasion. Service connection for headaches was not addressed in this decision.