Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for left upper extremity radiculopathy as secondary to service-connected cervical spine arthritis. Service connection was denied for a left hand disability other than left upper extremity radiculopathy and for a left leg disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to assess current functional impairment resulting from his service-connected lumbar spine disability, including any associated neurological impairment.

The Board has found that more development is necessary and the case must be remanded for issuance of a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) to address the increased rating claim for chronic lumbar strain.

The Veteran's increased ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted, with a 20% rating each. The restoration of the 20% rating for his back disability effective August 12, 2016 has also been granted.,The Veteran’s claim for an increased rating in excess of 20% for his back disability is remanded and will be adjudicated again.

The Veteran's kyphosis associated with wedge deformity, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, breathing and respiratory issues, and abdominal pain and other digestive issues have been granted service connection. The Veteran was also granted an increased rating for his kyphosis condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disability, right and left lumbar radiculopathy due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy is granted. The appeal is allowed to that extent only.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including traumatic arthritis of his lumbosacral spine, entrapment of the lumbar nerve root in his left lower extremity, radiculopathy of his right lower extremity, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, preclude him from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU rating.

The appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for sleep apnea is granted. The claims for bilateral ankle disability and bilateral knee disability are denied, but the low back disability with right side radiculopathy remains under review.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 10 percent prior to July 10, 2019 and at 20 percent thereafter. The rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity remains at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded three separate claims for increased ratings: lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The Veteran is to be provided with a VA examination to assess the severity of his lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied service connection for radiculopathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, as well as a heart disorder, finding no current diagnosis in the medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine disorders, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and chronic pain syndrome (claimed as Gulf War unexplained illness).

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for lumbosacral strain with posterior disc bulge and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to additional evidence being added to the record. The case will be returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for review.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and radiculopathy of both lower extremities, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board granted a TDIU effective December 2, 2011.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his right knee, lower back, and left leg disabilities. He is required to undergo VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for OSA, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, and GERD due to evidence indicating their service-connected disabilities have worsened since the last VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to incomplete information regarding her reported flare-ups. The case is returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has remanded several rating matters related to the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine conditions, upper and lower extremity radiculopathies, neurogenic bladder, and erectile dysfunction. The issues of effective dates for service connection are also being addressed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities of the cervical spine, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and lumbar spine are remanded for additional examinations to assess their current severity. The Veteran is also remanded for service connection on the merits for a left wrist disability, left shoulder tendinitis, and chest pain.