Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied in November 2010, and the effective date of the subsequent grants was set at June 11, 2018.

The Veteran's appeal regarding his lumbar spine DDD is being remanded for additional examination and analysis. The Board finds that a VA examination should be conducted to determine if the Veteran’s lumbar spine DDD was caused or aggravated by his service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's back and neck disabilities were denied increased ratings.,His right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy was also denied an increased rating, but he received a compensable initial disability rating for his right upper and left upper extremity radiculopathies.

The Board denied service connection for chest pains, dermatitis, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and asthma. The Veteran's claims were not addressed under the presumption of service connection for undiagnosed illnesses due to his service in the Gulf War.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues are related to a back disorder and a neurologic disorder of the bilateral lower extremities, including peripheral neuropathy and radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for osteoarthritis of the right hip has been denied as there is no evidence of limitation of motion or other compensable symptoms.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for limitation and impairment of the right hip has also been denied due to lack of additional functional loss beyond what is already reflected in the 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, along with associated radiculopathy in both lower extremities and left ankle disability, are all rated at 40 percent disabling for the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability and radiculopathy have been rated at 20 percent, with a TDIU granted. The rating for the back disability is maintained as there is no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or severe lumbosacral strain.

The Board has determined that the remand of issues related to the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy is necessary due to the potential impact on a TDIU claim. The Veteran’s work history needs to be clarified, as it is unclear when he stopped working.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for cervical spine disability is denied. A separate 20 percent rating for right upper extremity radiculopathy is granted from August 8, 2007. The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to June 16, 2011 is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities was granted with an effective date set at May 19, 2010.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine disorder, right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, and left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy as the evidence did not show a relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection for left heel spur, and secondary service connection for left heel spur due to gout of the bilateral feet and sciatica of the lower left extremity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, and evaluations in excess of 10 percent for low back strain and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity have all been denied.,Service connection was not granted because there is no evidence of current tinnitus. The claim for increased ratings were also denied as the Veteran's disabilities did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of evidence showing a current diagnosis and no medical nexus between his in-service injuries and his claimed conditions. The GERD claim is remanded for further examination, while erectile dysfunction secondary to service-connected adjustment disorder remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical arthritis and cervical radiculopathy were denied as new evidence did not establish an in-service occurrence or a nexus to service, and the current conditions are not related to service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection and increased disability ratings, effectively dismissing the cases.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of his military exposure history.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 20 percent for left lower extremity sciatica prior to January 5, 2015. The issue of entitlement to increased ratings for the Veteran's spondylosis of the lumbosacral spine is remanded.