Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right upper extremity radiculopathy have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability due to his service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of peripheral neuropathy were denied.,The Veteran's claims for initial ratings greater than the currently assigned percentages for various disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and residuals of multiple basal cell carcinomas, were remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's cervical spondylosis is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.,The Veteran's left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome and cervical radiculopathy are currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board does not find any basis for an increased rating.,The Veteran's right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome is currently rated at 60 percent, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to the appellant's request for withdrawal of all issues in the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate examination and new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete medical records and need for new evaluations of his neck disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability and left leg disability (sciatic nerve), finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to her period of active military service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The decision also noted that some of the issues are related to a service-connected lumbar spine disorder, but these secondary claims have not been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation from July 25, 2017, to March 7, 2018.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and examination, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathy. The claims for service connection for Hepatitis C and TDIU are also remanded.

The Veteran's fracture of the L3 transverse process is rated at 20 percent. Service connection for other conditions, including a separate lumbosacral spine disability and peripheral vascular disabilities, are denied. Other service-connected issues remain pending.

The Veteran's initial increased rating claims for a lumbar spine disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve were denied.,A TDIU claim was also denied.

The Veteran's service connection for degenerative changes of the cervical spine is granted. The appeals for left hip disorder, cervical radiculopathy, and right hip strain are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling a VA examination to assess occupational impairment due to service-connected disabilities, and clarifying the relevance of the Veteran's participation on a tribal council. The TDIU issue is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the rating assigned for the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and its associated radiculopathy due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations. The case is returned for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability and no causal relationship to service or service-connected low back condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and sleep apnea, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain gainful employment for the period from November 20, 2014 to September 24, 2015. The Board has granted TDIU based on this evidence.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, sciatic nerve, have been granted initial evaluations of 20 percent since November 8, 2014. Evaluations in excess of 20 percent are denied for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the issues of entitlement to service connection for left knee, right knee, left ankle, right ankle, left foot, and right foot disabilities must be remanded due to additional development being required.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 20 percent for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, finding that the Veteran's symptoms qualify as moderate.