Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, and GERD have been granted initial ratings. The effective date for these grants is June 2, 2016.

The Board has granted a temporary total disability rating for convalescence following back surgeries from April 17, 2014 to July 3, 2014. The issues of whether reductions in the ratings for left shoulder disability and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity were proper are remanded due to new relevant VA examination reports.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate notice of VA examinations.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, as his service-connected conditions have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate examination reports and the need for additional opinions regarding his lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has determined that additional medical examinations and opinions are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection, as well as his claim for an increased rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity. The issues have been remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since April 24, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for SMC at the R-1 or R-2 level is remanded due to outstanding VA and non-VA treatment records. The AOJ should obtain these records and conduct further development as needed.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for neck disability due to new and material evidence. The claims for service connection for headache disability, neurological impairment of the upper extremities, and neurological impairment of the lower extremities are remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the reopening of the neck disability claim.

The Board has remanded several issues for issuance of a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) after new evidence was submitted without waiver of RO review. The TDIU issue remains on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for further evaluation of certain conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent prior to December 20, 2016. Beginning December 20, 2016, the rating for PTSD is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, right lower extremity; genitourinary disability other than recurrent urinary tract infection, to include prostatitis and BPH; and recurrent urinary tract infection, to include residuals related to this disorder. The issues of entitlement to service connection for vertigo have been remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability and lower bilateral radiculopathy disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of August 3, 2006. The Board granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis for the period from August 3, 2006 to April 21, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, leading to a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error, and he needs an examination to determine his eligibility for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant.

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The Veteran's request for self-employment assistance through Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) was granted. The decision found that the Veteran has a serious employment handicap due to his service-connected disabilities, which necessitated selection of self-employment as the only reasonably feasible vocational goal.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his back disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on range of motion or neurologic impairment.