Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of her claimed conditions.

The Veteran's initial rating for thoracolumbar spine disability is denied, and he is granted a higher rating of 40 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy from February 11, 2019. He is also granted a higher rating of 40 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy from the same date.

The Board has remanded several claims for service connection due to the Veteran's previous denial of these conditions in 2014 and 2016. The new claim is considered a reopening of those prior determinations.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his active service or any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for reimbursement of parking fees and monthly subsistence allowance, as well as his request for VR&E services including independent living services, are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence.,The Veteran has been provided with a thorough vocational rehabilitation evaluation that includes assessments of his current limitations caused by service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to perform in both his current occupational field and desired career changes.

The Board has granted a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, finding that he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his cervical spine disability and other conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's employment status and hours worked, which is necessary to determine if he qualifies for TDIU prior to October 29, 2018.

The Board denied an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran's left leg radiculopathy is related to his service-connected lumbosacral strain. A neurological examination is needed to clarify this issue.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and conflicting evidence regarding his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected residuals of a thoracic spine scar was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show three or four scars that were unstable or painful, and therefore, a higher rating could not be granted. For the TDIU claim prior to July 19, 2017, the Veteran's disabilities rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar and thoracic spine disabilities have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.,An effective date of February 1, 2016, has been granted for the left foot disability.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 20 percent effective November 21, 2017. He also receives separate ratings of 20 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy and 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy beginning that date.,Prior to November 21, 2017, the Veteran's back disability was rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's left upper extremity radiculopathy was granted a 30% rating from February 23, 2019 to August 22, 2019. The condition is characterized by moderate incomplete paralysis of the upper radicular group.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches and remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine, right leg radiculopathy, joint pain, and muscle pain.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for a lumbar spine disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to deficiencies in the VA examinations of record. The cases are inextricably intertwined, so an adequate VA examination is required.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate examinations and opinions regarding her lumbar spine, sciatica, and dental conditions. The issues include secondary service connection based on her service-connected thoracolumbar strain and bruxism.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is granted with a 10 percent rating, but no higher. The Veteran’s right lower extremity radiculopathy associated with lumbar spine degenerative disc disease is also granted with a 10 percent rating, but the issue of a higher initial rating for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar degenerative disc disease and entitlement to TDIU due to insufficient evidence from the most recent VA examination. The Veteran's death is noted, but no further action is required as the requested VA examination was not possible.