Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2020

The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder has been granted a 70 percent disability rating, and his radiculopathy of the left lower extremity has been granted a 10 percent disability rating. The case is remanded for further examination regarding sleep apnea, lumbosacral strain, and TDIU.,The Veteran's service connection claim for sleep apnea remains pending, as does his request for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain and radiculopathy of the lower extremities. The issue of a total disability rating based on unemployability is also pending.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including cervical spine disorder, cervical radiculopathy, right shoulder disorder, right upper extremity scars (armpit scars), back disorder, and right leg sciatica, as they were not related to the Veteran's period of honorable service from September 6, 2005 to November 25, 2008.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar degenerative disc disease and in excess of 10 percent for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity due to insufficient examination findings regarding flare-ups.

The Veteran's left and right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve are each rated at 20 percent, while his right upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the median nerve is rated at 30 percent. The Veteran’s left upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the median nerve is rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities and lumbar strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, have prevented him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including fibromyalgia and various hip, ankle, groin, eye, heart, and other conditions. The VA is required to obtain medical opinions regarding whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's flare-ups caused functional loss during the period from 2009 to 2017. The remaining issues on appeal are inextricably intertwined and must be developed together.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected low back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy have been denied as a matter of law due to the Veteran's failure to report for scheduled VA examinations. The claim for TDIU has also been denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective from November 12, 2016. The Veteran's depression disability with anxious distress is rated at 70 percent since March 2, 2017 and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back disability, left leg condition, and right leg radiculopathy due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The issues are related to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy and denied service connection for pre-ventricular contractions. The issue of an increased rating for coronary artery disease is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to address the issue of service connection for a psychiatric disorder. The Board finds that the current evaluation for left upper extremity radiculopathy should be granted at 30 percent, but no higher.

The Board denied service connection for a back condition, neck condition, and bilateral radiculopathy of the lower extremities. The Veteran's claims were not supported by medical evidence linking his current conditions to his active military service.,There is no direct evidence showing that the Veteran's current back, neck, or radiculopathy conditions are related to his time in the military.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected back condition and right lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and retrieval of outstanding VA and private treatment records.

The Board has found that additional development is needed before the claims can be adjudicated on the merits. The RO must attempt to obtain VA treatment records from Overton Brooks VA Medical Center and private medical providers, including Dr. M. Dhawan in Shreveport, Louisiana.

The Board is remanding the case due to an error in determining when the Veteran's claims were abandoned, and requests that additional evidence be obtained before a decision can be made.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar radiculopathy and DDD. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's lower extremity radiculopathy has been remanded for further evaluation due to increased symptoms reported since his last VA examination in March 2018. Additional treatment records are needed, and a new VA examination is required to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's lower back condition and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted service connection.,Service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition is remanded.