Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2020

Service connection for a cervical spine disability, low back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and seizure disorder is denied.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction is remanded due to lack of an opinion on the relationship between service-connected PTSD and GERD.

The Veteran's claims for an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for mixed anxiety and depressed mood, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a back disability, and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities have been dismissed. The Board found no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on several conditions have been withdrawn. The claims for right ankle disability, chronic kidney disability, and PTSD rating are being remanded due to the need for additional examination or evidence. The claim for chronic kidney disease has been reopened based on new evidence.

The Veteran's lumbar spine condition and related issues are not rated higher than the current assigned ratings.

The Board granted service connection for left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy and an initial 20 percent rating for degenerative joint disease right knee, status post arthroscopy meniscal surgery from November 19, 2013 to June 14, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his employment history.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his shrapnel wound residuals and service connection for a right lower extremity muscle injury were denied. The Board found moderately severe incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve, warranting a 40% disability rating. Service connection was granted for a right lower extremity muscle injury. However, the claim for service connection for a back disability is remanded due to inadequate examination report.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of both lower extremities has been rated at 10 percent since July 21, 2015. The Board denied increased ratings for the right and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that it is not related to his military service and was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected low back disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, including as a sleep disorder due to an undiagnosed illness is denied because there is no evidence of such condition in-service or within one year post-service.,The Veteran's claim for increased evaluation for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is also denied as his current disability does not meet the criteria for a 40 percent rating, which would be required to grant an increased evaluation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and the Board found no evidence of a compensable disability.,The Veteran's right shoulder disorder and radiculopathy of the right upper extremity are not service-connected. The Board determined that these conditions did not begin during service or were caused by his already service-connected left shoulder disability.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and the Board found no evidence of a compensable disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative lumbar disc disease, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to inadequate VA examinations that did not account for functional loss from flare-ups and repeated use over time.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims. The Board affirmed the denial of these claims in multiple decisions.

The Veteran's left ankle arthritis and PTSD have been granted service connection. The initial disability rating for PTSD has been increased to 70 percent, effective from March 21, 2014. Bilateral hearing loss, headaches, acid reflux, residual scar, right knee disability, left knee disability, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, sciatica (left lower extremity), and sciatica (right lower extremity) have been dismissed.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient examination findings for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity and because a decision on the radiculopathy case could significantly impact the IVDS evaluation. The Veteran will need an additional VA examination for his radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected closed fracture, lumbar vertebrae; radiculopathy of the left lower extremity; and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity due to inadequate examination findings.

The Veteran's radiculopathy/neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is granted as secondary to his service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome with spinal stenosis. The issues of a higher rating for intervertebral disc syndrome and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of her service-connected knee and radiculopathy disabilities, as well as her claim for a TDIU. Additional evidence was added to the record since the last decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete VA treatment records. The Veteran's low back disability, right leg nerve disorder (sciatica), and right knee disability are all in question.

The Veteran's service-connected radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities results in actual loss of use, allowing them to be eligible for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or other conveyance.