Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain is denied.,The Veteran's claims for compensable disability ratings prior to October 1, 2019, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter, for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity are denied.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating prior to October 1, 2019, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter, for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is denied.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 20 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating due to limited forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine.,The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 10 percent and there is no indication that it warrants a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for his service-connected left upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that the evidence did not support higher evaluations or earlier effective dates.

The Veteran's sciatic radiculopathy of the LEFT and RIGHT lower extremities, as well as his IVDS of the lumbar spine, have been granted increased ratings. The highest possible rating for IVDS based on incapacitating episodes is now in effect.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete compliance with prior remand instructions.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for her lumbar spine and right knee disabilities were denied. The claim for a higher rating for arthritis and chondromalacia of the right knee prior to September 17, 2013 was granted with a 10% rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to provide a VA examination as requested in a previous remand. The Veteran's right upper extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is warranted.

The Veteran's right leg peripheral vascular disease resulted in claudication on walking less than 25 yards and an ankle/brachial index of 0.62, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,Prior to December 19, 2019, the Veteran had mild incomplete paralysis of the sciatic and femoral nerves in both legs; as of that date, he had moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether sciatica was initially diagnosed during service or is related to service-connected conditions. The Veteran's claim for service connection for sciatica will be further evaluated by a VA examiner.

The Veteran's hyperlipidemia was not service-connected as it is a laboratory finding and does not constitute a disability for VA compensation.,Service connection was denied for right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, sciatic nerve (claimed as “neuropathy associated with DM2 (herbicide) with ED”) due to lack of evidence showing the condition was incurred or aggravated during service.,Service connection was denied for left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, sciatic nerve (claimed as “neuropathy associated with DM2 (herbicide) with ED”) for similar reasons.,There is no evidence of tick bite disease in the record.,No residual maladies of vaccines were found in the Veteran's medical history.,Residuals of a broken nose are not established in the record.,Inguinal hernia and its residuals have not been substantiated by the evidence.,Malaria and its residuals are not supported by the available records.,Umbilical hernia and its residuals were not found in the Veteran's medical history.

The Board has remanded the claims for an addendum VA medical opinion to determine the severity of the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy throughout the appeal period, as the relevant VA examination reports did not seem to include determinations regarding whether the Veteran’s peripheral neuropathy was mild, moderate, moderately severe, or severe.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating on an extraschedular basis for his low back disability prior to May 23, 2011 was denied. The Veteran is in receipt of SMC based on need for aid and attendance due to loss of use of both feet.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a TDIU was part and parcel of his underlying claim of entitlement to increased ratings for his shoulder condition. The Board denied the TDIU as it appears that the Veteran was gainfully employed, although there is incomplete information regarding the precise dates of employment and whether such was gainful.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (low back injury and diabetes) did not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to February 20, 2008.

The Veteran's hearing loss of the left ear and right ear, osteomyelitis, bilateral hip disability, radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and back scar are all remanded for further evaluation. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered based on new evidence and examinations.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 20 percent, and his PTSD with post-concussion syndrome is rated at 70 percent. Both conditions are denied for higher ratings.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's service-connected conditions, particularly for his lumbar spine disability. The claims are being remanded to obtain relevant treatment records and to schedule a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for left knee disability, cervical spine disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, and sciatica due to inadequate VA medical opinions in previous remands.

The Veteran's representative requested withdrawal of all appealed issues prior to the promulgation of a decision by the Board, leading to their dismissal.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability and lumbar radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right leg disability. Service connection for erectile dysfunction is also granted, but it remains unclear if this is related to his service-connected disabilities.