Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2020

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted effective September 20, 2018, based on his service-connected disabilities resulting in a combined rating of 90 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude her from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective date issues due to internal discrepancies in his service-connected ankylosing spondylitis diagnosis, as well as ongoing radiculopathy of the upper and lower extremities. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional medical records and schedule a VA examination to clarify the nature of the Veteran's disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment, or for adaptive equipment only.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to non-compliance with previous remand directives and a need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating in excess of 30 percent for an unspecified anxiety disorder, as well as his claims for skin disorders, hammer toes, hypertension, heart palpitations, and respiratory disorder are all denied. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on multiple service-connected disabilities have been dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn his appeals.

The Veteran's back disability, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, is considered to have started during his military service. The Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted reconsideration of the June 2011 claim to reopen service connection for a skin disability of the groin and feet. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating under Diagnostic Code 7913. Increased evaluations were denied for diabetic neuropathy in both lower extremities and diabetic nephropathy.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 70 percent, and his service-connected neurogenic bladder disability, GERD, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy are all granted.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's left upper extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded for referral to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, as they are not severe enough to prevent sedentary work.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the Veteran's radiculopathy is related to his service-connected low back disability.

The Board has granted service connection for various conditions, including herniated disc at C5-6 with neck trauma, radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, GERD, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, and unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress and alcohol use disorder, effective from April 2, 2019.

The Board denied service connection for right knee disability, right lower extremity sciatica, left lower extremity sciatica, and bottom teeth.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back disability, which is secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. The decision is based on evidence showing that the Veteran’s current back disability was aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for his cervical spine disability, service connection for radiculopathy of the right upper extremity secondary to his cervical spine disability, and TDIU due to his disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, finding that it is related to the Veteran's service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and effective dates have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to the Board's decision.