Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2020

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, right-knee disorder, left-knee disorder, lumbar-spine disorder, left-lower-extremity neurological disorder (sciatica), erectile dysfunction, and hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates have been dismissed as freestanding claims, which are barred by law.,No specific rating or effective date has been assigned in this decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to February 1, 2013. The decision found that the Veteran was gainfully employed and engaged in marginal employment due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for lower back disability, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to a lumbar spine disability due to in-service continuous back pain and other relevant factors.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted a rating of 20 percent, but no higher. The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is denied any increase in rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a disorder manifested by neurological symptoms of the left lower extremity, including a lumbar spine disability with radiculopathy, finding that there was no evidence to support direct service connection and noting that the presumption of herbicide exposure did not apply.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for increased ratings for lumbar spine, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, left shoulder, and left carpal tunnel.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of dizziness, thoracolumbar strain (claimed as back pain), radiculopathy of the right lower extremity sciatic nerve, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity femoral nerve have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for further development regarding a TDIU rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for a lower back disability and associated radiculopathy due to inadequate examination, and the need for clarification of the Veteran's current diagnosis and etiology.

The Board has denied the Veteran's request for a temporary total evaluation based on convalescence for his service-connected low back strain with spondylosis in 2010 and 2011. The remaining claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further evidentiary development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his lumbar spine and lower left extremity disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated as noncompensable, with no improvement sought.,The Veteran's DDD with facet arthritis disability remains at a 20 percent rating. The case was remanded for further development and readjudication.,A separate 10 percent rating has been granted for the Veteran's sciatica, left lumbar disability associated with his DDD with facet arthritis.

The Veteran's initial rating for his service-connected cervical spine disability was denied, but a separate 20 percent rating was granted for right upper extremity radiculopathy associated with the cervical spine disability.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations conducted in April and August 2019 were inadequate to decide the service connection claims. The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability and bilateral lower extremity disabilities are remanded for additional development, including obtaining a new examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine condition, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his active duty service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back strain, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The issues are related to functional loss with repeated use over time and/or with flare-ups, as well as moderate intermittent pain.

The Veteran's lower back disability is now rated at 20 percent effective March 15, 2019. The initial evaluations for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy remain denied. The lumbosacral region scar remains non-compensable.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination findings and failure to comply with previous remand directives. The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spondylosis and right leg radiculopathy need further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and lower extremity radiculopathies are being remanded due to inadequate examination findings. The Veteran is seeking higher disability ratings, but the most recent VA examination did not adequately assess his symptoms or provide a comprehensive evaluation.