Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction was granted from November 20, 2015. The disability rating of 30% is assigned.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and evaluations to determine the nature of his sleep apnea, cervical spine disability, and service connection claims.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral knee disability, lumbar spine disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and an acquired psychiatric condition.,However, the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for psychosis or mental illness for the purpose of establishing eligibility for treatment under 38 U.S.C. § 1702 is dismissed as moot due to the grant of service connection for his acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to the need for clarification regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and spondylosis, as well as his left lower extremity condition. The claims are inextricably intertwined with the lumbosacral strain rating claim.

The Board has remanded the cases for issuance of a Statement of the Case regarding effective dates for service connection and increased evaluations for right knee femoral and sciatic nerve disabilities. The issues are inextricably intertwined with the effective date issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected herniated cervical discs, with spinal stenosis, right upper extremity radiculopathy with carpal tunnel syndrome, and left lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded due to the need for updated treatment records and VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for chronic low back strain was denied, but the Board granted secondary service connection for bilateral lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy.

The Board has granted service connection for left sacroiliac joint strain. The issues of service connection for lumbar spine degenerative changes, lumbar spine IVDS, and bilateral lower extremities radiculopathy are remanded.

The Veteran's need for aid and attendance was granted from September 19, 2013 to September 29, 2018. The claim for a compensable rating for tinea versicolor prior to April 29, 2019 is denied.

The Board vacated the June 2019 decision and granted service connection for hypertension. The effective dates for other conditions were denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lower back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy was granted, with the effective date being June 11, 2014. The Veteran is now in receipt of a 20 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy from that date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not rendered him unemployable or unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's increased ratings for PTSD and degenerative arthritis, thoracolumbar spine, with intervertebral disc syndrome were denied. The Veteran was not granted initial evaluations in excess of 10 percent for his radiculopathy conditions.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for PTSD, headaches, and left upper extremity radiculopathy (claimed as left shoulder) have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been remanded.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU effective February 1, 2009 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for neck injury residuals with left shoulder and arm radiculopathy, and left knee degenerative joint disease due to inadequate medical opinions regarding functional impairment during flare-ups.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an extension to file a Notice of Disagreement (NOD) regarding his July 2014 and November 2014 rating decisions, finding that he did not provide good cause for filing late. The ratings assigned for radiculopathy in both lower extremities and TBI were maintained.

The Veteran's low back disability and associated right lower extremity radiculopathy are currently rated as 20 percent disabling prior to April 25, 2013, and higher than 40 percent since that date. The left ankle disability is rated at 20 percent from June 15, 2016 onwards.,The Veteran's Type II Diabetes Mellitus remains rated as 20 percent disabling.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease (CAD) is granted. Claims for erectile dysfunction, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded.

The Veteran's increased disability ratings for lumbar spine DDD and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an increased rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine or the Formula for Rating Intervertebral Disc Syndrome Based on Incapacitating Episodes.