Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues of neck disability, left arm pain, left shoulder pain, and left lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the VA examination conducted in March 2017 was inadequate and requires an addendum opinion to address causation, aggravation, and quantification of any aggravation.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.,The Board also denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) and a bilateral foot disability.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are currently rated at 20% each, but the Board finds that their current severity does not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has decided to remand three issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims for a cervical spine disability, radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, and radiculopathy of the left upper extremity. The reasons are that there is insufficient evidence to determine the nature and etiology of these disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sciatica of the left and right lower extremities due to incomplete development and lack of a rationale for relying on an old EMG.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a new VA examination due to previous examinations not complying with instructions. The case is also being readjudicated after obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling an examination.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various conditions and ratings for certain disabilities. The specific issues include dental disorders, hearing loss, tinnitus, ear infections, sleep apnea, arm and elbow disorders, frostbite residuals, low back disorder, sciatic nerve disorder, psychiatric disorders, pes planus, gout in the lower extremities, bronchial asthma, and allergic rhinitis.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back condition, bilateral knee arthritis, and right lower extremity nerve disorder as secondary to bilateral pes planus due to new evidence received after the July 2010 denial.

The Veteran's service-connected sciatic nerve radiculopathy and related conditions resulted in a total disability rating of 100% since March 6, 2017. The effective date for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of both lower extremities is set at March 6, 2017.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left lower extremity radiculopathies, as there may have been an increase in severity since the last examination.

The Board has denied a rating greater than 30 percent for left ventricular hypertrophy and has remanded the issues of service connection for low back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU.

The Veteran's appeals for reopening service connection, increased disability ratings, and earlier effective dates have been withdrawn. The Board has dismissed these matters.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if the appellant's current back disability is related to his period of ACDUTRA service, and whether his left leg radiculopathy is caused by or aggravated by his back disability.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is rated at 10 percent, and his TDIU claim has been granted. The Board found that the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for spinal stenosis, disc protrusions, spondylosis, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, bilateral hand disability (CTS and arthritis of the hands), and bilateral ankle and foot disorders. The conditions are found to have their onset during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, even one that involves sedentary type work.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and service connection for radiculopathy of the lower extremities, as well as TDIU, are remanded due to incomplete evaluations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are being remanded as there are outstanding treatment records that have not yet been associated with the claims file.,Further examination and opinion may be needed to determine if any of the claimed disabilities are related to military service.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral leg disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition is less likely related to his active military service. The Board also found no evidence of kidney disorders being incurred during or caused by his service.,Service connection was not granted for nephrolithiasis and chronic renal disease as there was insufficient evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's service.