Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent for the period prior to March 19, 2018 and at 40 percent thereafter. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is also rated at 20 percent.,For the period prior to September 6, 2018, the Veteran's depressive disorder was rated at 30 percent; since then, it has been rated at 70 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy were denied as the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent for the lumbar condition or higher than 10 percent for the lower extremity radiculopathies.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and arranging for an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's PTSD diagnosis.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted as of August 30, 2010, based on his service-connected disabilities making it impossible for him to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to unresolved issues regarding service connection for various conditions, including hypertension and sensory ataxia. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings on DDD of the cervical spine, LUE cervical radiculopathy, RUE cervical radiculopathy, and osteoporosis are also pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment, leading to a grant of TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, right-knee disorder, left-knee disorder, lumbar-spine disorder, left-lower-extremity neurological disorder (sciatica), erectile dysfunction, and hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates have been dismissed as freestanding claims, which are barred by law.,No specific rating or effective date has been assigned in this decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to February 1, 2013. The decision found that the Veteran was gainfully employed and engaged in marginal employment due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for lower back disability, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to a lumbar spine disability due to in-service continuous back pain and other relevant factors.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted a rating of 20 percent, but no higher. The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is denied any increase in rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a disorder manifested by neurological symptoms of the left lower extremity, including a lumbar spine disability with radiculopathy, finding that there was no evidence to support direct service connection and noting that the presumption of herbicide exposure did not apply.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for increased ratings for lumbar spine, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, left shoulder, and left carpal tunnel.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of dizziness, thoracolumbar strain (claimed as back pain), radiculopathy of the right lower extremity sciatic nerve, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity femoral nerve have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for further development regarding a TDIU rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for a lower back disability and associated radiculopathy due to inadequate examination, and the need for clarification of the Veteran's current diagnosis and etiology.

The Board has denied the Veteran's request for a temporary total evaluation based on convalescence for his service-connected low back strain with spondylosis in 2010 and 2011. The remaining claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further evidentiary development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his lumbar spine and lower left extremity disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated as noncompensable, with no improvement sought.,The Veteran's DDD with facet arthritis disability remains at a 20 percent rating. The case was remanded for further development and readjudication.,A separate 10 percent rating has been granted for the Veteran's sciatica, left lumbar disability associated with his DDD with facet arthritis.

The Veteran's initial rating for his service-connected cervical spine disability was denied, but a separate 20 percent rating was granted for right upper extremity radiculopathy associated with the cervical spine disability.