Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, thus denying his claim for a total disability due to individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the issues of whether the reduction of the evaluation for lumbar strain, from 20 percent to 10 percent was proper and the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his back disabilities. The remaining issues are being remanded due to the need for a medical examination.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and evaluation due to inadequate examinations in July 2015. The Veteran needs new, contemporaneous evaluations of his service-connected right hip and low back disabilities as well as a determination of the severity of his service-connected right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy (claimed as left side sciatica) is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.,Service connection is denied for joint pain due to an undiagnosed illness and generalized degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea was reopened, and he is now granted service connection. His Crohn’s disease is rated at the highest available rating of 40 percent. The Veteran's left lumbar radiculopathy remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Board dismissed the appeals as the Veteran withdrew his requests for increased ratings in these cases.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for low back condition, left knee disorder, right foot plantar fasciitis, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy. The effective date of TDIU is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to the need for updated VA treatment records and employment information, as well as clarification of the Veteran's income. The claims file will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, head injury residuals (headaches), sleep apnea, dizziness, left shoulder disability, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and/or left knee disability are being remanded for further evaluation.,Service connection is not currently established for any of the conditions listed above.

The Board has remanded the claims for a lower back disability, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. Additional development is required including obtaining updated authorization from Dr. F.G. in Spring, Texas.

The Board denied service connection for left leg sciatica, right leg sciatica, and chronic low back disorder. The Veteran's claims were not supported by the evidence of record.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have worsened, and he requires assistive devices to walk. The Board has ordered a new VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected conditions on his ability to use assistive devices for locomotion.

The Board has denied service connection for left knee and shoulder disabilities, as well as sciatic radiculopathy of the lower extremities. The Veteran's headaches are also remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.,Service connection is not granted for any of the claimed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, which is claimed as a right hip disorder, as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative arthritis. The decision resolves doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and opinions are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and TDIU. The issues have been remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for a back disability and neurological disorders of the left and right legs, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service connection was not granted as the Veteran's current disabilities are considered direct rather than secondary or presumptive in nature.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for various service-connected disabilities due to a lack of recent VA examinations and assertions of worsening symptoms. The cases are being returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings are denied.,The Veteran’s TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board has dismissed the issue of whether new and material evidence had been received to reopen a claim for service connection for left rotator cuff injury. The Veteran's claim of right leg radiculopathy was denied in an August 2010 rating decision, and his claim of left knee disability was reopened but remains remanded due to insufficient evidence.