Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2019

The petition to reopen the appeal for entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The petition to reopen the appeal for entitlement to service connection for right knee pain is reopened and the claim for service connection for right knee pain is denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus, lumbar spine scoliosis and arthritis, cervical spine arthritis, radiculopathy of the upper left extremity, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity have been granted service connection and increased ratings. The Veteran received a 40 percent disability rating for her lumbar spine scoliosis and arthritis as of January 19, 2018.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are granted. The rating assigned is 10%.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine stenosis, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and schizoaffective disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected disabilities was granted with effective dates of June 28, 2011. The Veteran is now entitled to separate ratings for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, as well as limitations in extension and flexion of both hips.

The Veteran's eligibility for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation is remanded due to additional mobility problems associated with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. The Board finds a need for a new VA examination to evaluate the current severity of his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to ambulate.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's ability to sit for extended periods of time and his foot disabilities' impact on sleep, as well as the need for updated medical records and evaluations.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to final adjudication of the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and effective dates for his service-connected right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, femoral nerve peripheral neuropathy, and housebound rate.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for various service-connected disabilities as the Veteran did not file a proper claim prior to February 17, 2016.

The Board has decided that the appellant does not have a bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and denied service connection for this condition. The other issues on appeal are remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective June 30, 2011. The Board found that the Veteran did not have any adjudicated service-connected disabilities prior to this date and thus denied an earlier effective date.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of increased evaluations for his service-connected low back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy and neuralgia of the sciatic nerve, varicose veins of the left leg, and liver disability. These matters are being remanded to allow for further examination and evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are now granted. The left lower extremity radiculopathy is found to be related to the service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate statements of reasons and bases in their previous decisions.,Further development is required as there are inconsistencies between the Board's decision and evidence from the Veteran's service records.

The Veteran's increased ratings for right and left shoulder rotator cuff tendinopathy with adhesive capsulitis, lumbosacral strain and thoracic spondylosis with radiculopathy, cervical spinal stenosis with spondylosis, right ankle strain, left ankle strain, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are denied.,The Veteran's freestanding claims for service connection of PTSD, allergic rhinosinusitis, cervical spinal stenosis with spondylosis, lumbosacral strain and thoracic spondylosis with radiculopathy, right ankle strain, left ankle strain, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of broken right arm, broken ribs, a right foot injury (including broken toes), a back disability, and a right leg disability (to include as secondary to a back disability). The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary for the Veteran to undergo VA examinations and obtain additional medical records in order to properly assess his claims of service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss, low back condition, radiculopathy, left knee condition, right knee condition, and right shoulder condition.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine the severity of the Veteran's lower back disability and radiculopathy claims, including VA treatment records and any relevant private treatment records. The AOJ will attempt to obtain these records and schedule the Veteran for an examination with an appropriate examiner.

The Veteran's GERD developed during service and is granted service connection.,Service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy is denied as there is no current diagnosis of such condition.,For the lumbar spine disability, a higher rating than 10 percent is not warranted due to lack of limitation of motion or ankylosis. For left lower extremity sciatica (left lower extremity radiculopathy), a higher rating than 10 percent is also not warranted as there is no moderate, moderately severe, or severe incomplete paralysis.,The Veteran's right and left pes planus and hallux valgus are denied service connection. Service connection for allergic rhinitis is granted.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathies due to conflicting evidence regarding their severity and location.