Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, chest pains, proteinuria, and inactive fatigue have been dismissed. The claim of service connection for left leg radiculopathy has been reopened.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his heart condition prior to December 17, 2019 is denied. A rating of 60 percent is granted as of December 17, 2019.,A remand is ordered due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hypertension and service or herbicide exposure, and whether it is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected conditions.,The Veteran's claims for service connection related to cramping in arms and legs, hypertension (to include due to service-connected conditions), degenerative disc disease, sciatic of the left lower extremity, and gout are remanded as insufficient medical opinions were provided regarding these issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, cervical spine disability, radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, and radiculopathy of the right upper extremity due to inadequate examinations.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right shoulder trapezius strain, cervical strain with degenerative joint disease (claimed as neck condition), left upper extremity radiculopathy, and right upper extremity radiculopathy have been granted. The effective dates are set at April 14, 2016.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent, effective February 1, 2017.,The Veteran meets the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's IVDS of the thoracolumbar spine is now rated at 40 percent, effective June 30, 2020. The right ankle disability has been restored to a 10 percent rating from June 22, 2016.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral shoulder disorder, RIGHT elbow disorder, and LEFT elbow disorder. Service connection was granted for left lower extremity radiculopathy / sciatica as secondary to a service-connected low back disorder. Temporary total ratings under 38 C.F.R. § 4.29 were denied due to lack of VA hospitalizations.

The Veteran's low back disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted, but the Board has denied ratings for other service-connected disabilities due to secondary service connection.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder as the evidence did not show it was incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including her lumbosacral strain, right ankle, left lower radiculopathy and right wrist conditions, are considered one disability with a combined rating of 60 percent. The Board finds that the functional impairment associated with these disabilities precludes the Veteran from securing substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is rated at 20 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's radiculopathy, right lower extremity prior to June 4, 2018, is rated at 10 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's radiculopathy, right lower extremity from June 4, 2018, is rated at 20 percent, which meets the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran is not found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for separate service connection of a disability manifested by radiating pain, numbness and decreased sensation in both feet, finding that such symptoms were related to his service-connected sciatica.

The reduction of the rating for right upper extremity radiculopathy with acromioclavicular joint bursitis and arthritis from 40 percent to 0 percent, effective November 1, 2015, was improper. The 40 percent rating is restored, effective November 1, 2015.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, resulting in the grant of TDIU. The claims for respiratory disorder and sleep apnea are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis and spondylosis is rated at 20 percent, effective October 1, 2019. The right lower extremity radiculopathy was initially denied a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to November 18, 2019 but granted a disability rating of 20 percent beginning on that date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as his claim for a TDIU. The Board found that the Veteran’s bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy is moderate in nature, not meeting the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and associated radiculopathy, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that he is entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were all denied. The effective dates for the grants of service connection for PTSD and radiculopathy were also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to December 7, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, cervical spine disability, and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy have collectively prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.