Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2020

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, osteoarthritis lumbar spine with scoliosis, radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, and TDIU. The case is remanded for additional examinations to assess the severity of his lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error and incomplete records. The Veteran is entitled to an addendum VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of his low back disorder and radiculopathy of the LLE.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disorder, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease and right lumbar radiculopathy, is due to his military service. The claim for service connection was granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a separate rating for neuropathy of the lower extremities as secondary to service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and denied his claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board found no evidence of current neurological disorders in the Veteran's lower extremities.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability from October 27, 2010 to January 28, 2016.,Beginning October 27, 2010, the Veteran is also granted special monthly compensation based on statutory housebound status.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to deficiencies in a previous VA examination. The issues include increased ratings for lumbar myositis, discogenic disease, and radiculopathy of both lower extremities, as well as TDIU and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or by reason of being housebound due to his service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not show that he required A&A or was permanently confined to his home.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, primarily his acquired psychiatric disorder and lower back disability, render him unemployable. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran’s current bilateral hearing loss is related to acoustic trauma experienced during service.

The Board denied service connection for a right leg condition, including residuals of a lipoma, radiculopathy, and right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection have been withdrawn. The Board has also remanded several issues, including those related to traumatic brain injury, urinary incontinence, and right hip disability.,Issues such as service connection for TBI, urinary incontinence, and right hip disability are now pending before the Board.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete service treatment records and a need to review newly submitted evidence, including a VA examination for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings due to outstanding development, specifically obtaining Social Security Administration and private medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU as there was no evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to lumbar spine degenerative disc disease. The claims for hypertension, DM, acquired psychiatric disorder, symptomatic paroxysmal atrial flutter, glaucoma, left and right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, and right knee strain are all remanded.

An evaluation greater than 20 percent for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease is being remanded.,An evaluation greater than 10 percent for bilateral Achilles tendonitis with limitation of ankle motion prior to July 20, 2016 is being remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied because he did not provide the necessary information to show he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain a complete discharge summary of the Veteran's August 4, 2014 emergency room treatment at Memorial Hospital of Jacksonville.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right knee, back, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, bilateral upper and lower extremity radiculopathy, headache disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) due to additional development being required.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for traumatic arthritis of the lumbar spine, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy affecting the sciatic nerve, was granted with a 40 percent disability rating effective February 1, 2007. The appeal for earlier effective dates is denied.

For the period prior to May 1, 2015, the Veteran's chronic low back strain did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.,From May 1, 2015 onward, the Veteran's chronic low back strain is rated at 20 percent.