Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2020

The Board has ordered further development due to insufficient rationale in the addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lower extremity symptoms. The VA examiner is asked to provide an additional addendum opinion with complete rationale for all opinions presented.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities prior to December 3, 2012 was granted a disability rating of 20 percent. The appellant is not entitled to SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's employment history prior to June 6, 2016. The AOJ is instructed to request additional information from the Veteran about his income and earnings during relevant years.

Right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy are granted as due to service-connected L4-5 degenerative joint disease with stenosis.,A right shoulder disability is denied as not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded several issues for further examination and development, including service connection claims for various conditions and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's increased ratings for his lumbar spine and sciatic nerve disabilities from December 15, 2014 are denied. The current evaluations of 40 percent for the lumbar spine disability and 20 percent each for the right and left lower extremity disabilities are found to be appropriate based on the evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disorder and low back disorder, including left leg radiculopathy were denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claims.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly assess the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity. The case will be returned for further action.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation since May 1, 2012. His TDIU claim is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasoning and bases for denying service connection for a right hip condition, including as secondary to left great toe injury. The Veteran's claim includes sciatic pain, which may be considered a compensable disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, but has found that additional development is needed due to the complexity of the issues and potential overlap between some of them.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical disc syndrome, cervical radiculopathy, hypothyroidism, and hypogonadism due to insufficient evidence or data within the claims file. The Veteran's sleep disorder is denied as there is no current diagnosis of a sleep disorder other than restless leg syndrome.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity associated with DJD of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity associated with DJD of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to May 1, 2013. From May 1, 2013 to October 20, 2013 and from January 1, 2014 to January 9, 2014, the Veteran was granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as his right lower extremity sciatica. The remand includes obtaining clarification regarding the nature of the Veteran’s IVDS episodes and any physician-prescribed bedrest due to his spinal conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective January 1, 2020. The initial rating claims for knee and back disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

Your claim for a higher rating for major depressive disorder has been granted and effective July 17, 2018.,Your claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as secondary to your service-connected major depressive disorder was denied due to lack of evidence showing an increase in severity prior to the date you filed your claim.

The Veteran's intermittent sciatica of the left lower extremity is currently rated at 20 percent from March 27, 2018 to January 3, 2020. The appeal for higher ratings prior to and after this period remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment throughout the period on appeal, warranting a TDIU rating.

The Board has granted a 40 percent disability rating for residuals of a fracture to the lumbar spine and radiculopathy to the left lower extremity, effective January 28, 2009. The claim for an initial compensable rating for external cutaneous nerve disability in the left lower extremity was denied.