Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2020

The Veteran's headaches were granted a 50% disability rating effective September 28, 2017. However, his TDIU claim was denied as he is not unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran is entitled to an earlier effective date of April 14, 2008 for a TDIU due to her service-connected disabilities and inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, duodenal ulcer, lumbosacral strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy have all been denied. The effective date of the awards is April 23, 2014.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, bilateral lower extremity neurological disorders (ranging from radiculopathy to adhesive capsulitis), right shoulder disorder, and left shoulder disorder. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.,Service connection was denied as the preponderance of the evidence showed that the Veteran's current diagnoses were not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, lumbosacral strain, ischemic heart disease, and various gunshot wound residuals, have resulted in loss of use of the lower extremities. The Board has granted specially adapted housing for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations of lumbar scars, radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, and lumbar degenerative disc disease have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and sleep apnea have also been dismissed.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including evaluations for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, degenerative disc disease, calcaneal spur of the right heel, and left hip. The Veteran will need additional examinations and opinions regarding these conditions.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection and evaluation of the Veteran's neck disability, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, and healed fracture of left lateral malleolus with osteoarthritis as there was no substantive appeal filed.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to conflicting opinions and need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered her unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment since November 27, 2013. The Board granted TDIU for this period.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity with severe incomplete paralysis of the posterior tibial nerve is granted an initial rating of 20 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to issues related to the Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc and joint disease, including assessing functional impairment during flare-ups. The issue of an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy prior to November 2, 2015 is not revisited.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine condition was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board found that his cervical spine condition is related to his active duty service.,Service connection has been granted for PTSD with an effective date set at March 10, 2011.

The Board has denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a staph infection/gum disorder and remanded the issues of service connection for a headache disability, rating of low back strain with spondylolisthesis and degenerative disc disease, and ratings for right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for TBI and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher disability ratings at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims of secondary service connection for depression and erectile dysfunction are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a search for missing service treatment records. The claim for L5-S1 disc herniation with sciatica is also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings is remanded to allow for further examination and evaluation of his lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee disabilities, and scarring. The goal is to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for left lower extremity radiculopathy and chronic dysthymic disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.