Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2021

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine strain is rated at 20 percent, granting an increased rating. Service connection for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities remains unresolved.

The Board has determined that additional evidence needs to be obtained before the claims can be fully adjudicated. This includes obtaining audiogram results from VA treatment records and reviewing all new evidence submitted since the last decisions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, and his peripheral neuropathy and radiculopathy of the lower extremities are each rated at 20 percent. The appeal for higher ratings is denied.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions are being remanded due to the need for further development and evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to outstanding service treatment records not being obtained. The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including tinnitus, lumbosacral strain, bilateral hearing loss, cervical strain, PTSD, and a right lower extremity sciatic nerve disorder.

The Board has remanded three issues related to the Veteran's radiculopathy of the femoral nerve: increased ratings for both lower extremities, and effective dates prior to September 30, 2017, for service connection. The remand is due to insufficient information provided by the VA examination.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's service-connected lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, including radiculopathy. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for left lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the Veteran's claim did not show entitlement to this condition prior to December 31, 2012.

The Veteran's right eye disability is not service-connected, but he was granted secondary service connection for his bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy. His involuntary muscle twitch and left eye disabilities remain unconnected to service.,The Veteran has been awarded a TDIU based on the combined impact of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board dismissed the appeals for carpal tunnel syndrome, radiculopathy of the right arm, and low back pain as they are no longer relevant due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of his service-connected disabilities from October 15, 2009 to July 11, 2011.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives and issues related to neurologic complications of IVDS.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for tinnitus, lumbar myositis (back condition), and left lower extremity radiculopathy associated with lumbar myositis due to incomplete personnel records and insufficient information regarding the severity of his conditions. The Veteran will need to provide legible DD-214 and other personnel records, and an additional VA examination is required.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic disability manifested by dizziness and loss of balance, a back disability, and radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during military service.

The Board denied service connection for DDD of the lumbar spine, IVDS with residual scar, and left leg sciatica as these conditions did not have their onset in service or are otherwise unrelated to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations and for obtaining updated treatment records.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection are remanded to obtain additional medical opinions. The effective date of any grant is not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including depression, lumbar spine disability, intervertebral osteochondrosis, C3-C4, C6-C7, bilateral hearing loss, parotid gland neoplasm, and peripheral neuropathy have been granted with effective dates of May 20, 2011.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression has also been granted with an effective date of January 30, 2009.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for residuals of head injury, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, and radiculopathy of the upper extremities due to procedural errors and insufficient development. The Veteran needs a VA examination by a neurologist or other headache specialist to address his claim of service connection for head injury residuals, including headaches. If deemed relevant, an opinion with respect to the nature and etiology of the cervical spine disability and related radiculopathy should also be obtained.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The Veteran needs to undergo more contemporaneous examinations to determine the current severity of his left knee, spine, shoulder, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and hypertension disabilities.