Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeals regarding effective dates for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as the reopening of a claim for service connection for a left knee disability, have been dismissed. The Board also remanded several other issues including service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, rating for lumbar spine disability, initial ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and effective dates have been remanded due to the need for further development. The Board found that his left lower extremity radiculopathy is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, while his right lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for cervical degenerative disc disorder (DDD) is denied. A separate 20 percent rating for mild radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities associated with his cervical DDD is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, migraines, and sciatica due to the need for further development including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on all issues except for his claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and whether new and material evidence has been presented to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD. The claims are being remanded for further action.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is granted with a rating of 20 percent, effective prior to September 13, 2016. The right lower extremity radiculopathy remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic pain, a back disability, headaches, sciatica, and depression and anxiety as secondary to Legg Perthes disease due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial evaluations for his service-connected lumbosacral spine disability and associated lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus the Board has granted TDIU.

The Veteran's service connection claims were granted, and he was awarded evaluations for various conditions. The Board also found that some issues required further review.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The decision also remanded several issues, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, kidney stones, earlier effective dates, and TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for a separate 10 percent evaluation for lower extremity radiculopathy associated with his service-connected lumbar spine disability is granted. The claims for higher initial evaluations of the lumbar spine disability and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for diabetes mellitus and TDIU claim were both granted. The Veteran is now rated at 40% for diabetes mellitus, which includes a non-compensable rating for erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for fibromyalgia was granted. Service connection for lumbosacral spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy were also granted.

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

The Board has denied service connection for low back disorder and associated bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy due to lack of a nexus between current disabilities and in-service events.,While the Veteran suffers from current back conditions, there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's right side sciatica is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of her condition.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine is now rated at 40 percent effective October 22, 2018. Service connection for radiculopathy in both lower extremities has also been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the other issues due to incomplete rationale in the VA examination reports.