Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as cervical degenerative disc disease, all secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all remaining issues on appeal, including those related to the conditions listed and service connection theories.

PTSD with depressive disorder was granted a 70 percent rating effective June 6, 2016.,Radiculopathy of the right upper extremity was granted a 40 percent rating effective August 26, 2016.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, increased rating claims, and effective date claims due to incomplete medical records and scheduling of VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to November 30, 2011. The Board denied his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating for this condition. The Board denied a higher rating as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 70 percent disability rating. For TDIU, the Veteran was found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities and granted TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased evaluations and initial compensable evaluations for degenerative disc disease at L4-L5, associated radiculopathies, and TDIU due to service-connected disability. The Veteran is also required to provide clarification on his intention regarding the TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of additional VA treatment records associated with the Veteran's electronic claims folder since the March 2016 SSOC.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU have been denied. The rating for osteoarthritis of the thoracolumbar spine with history of T-12 and L-1 compression fracture is denied, as are the claims for sciatic neuropathy of the right lower extremity prior to February 24, 2017 and left lower extremity prior to February 24, 2017. The rating for sciatic neuropathy of the right lower extremity since February 24, 2017 is denied, as are those for the left lower extremity.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as the full benefits sought have been granted. The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity sciatica have been rated at 40 percent since June 27, 2018.,The Veteran's bowel dysfunction has been rated at 60 percent since June 27, 2018.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his failure to report for VA examinations. The issues include left upper extremity radiculopathy/peripheral neuropathy, cervical spine disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, all secondary to service-connected lumbar strain.

The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 10 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating. The claim for TDIU based on service-connected disabilities is remanded.

The Veteran's need for the regular aid and attendance of another person was granted effective April 25, 2020 due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder, left upper extremity radiculopathy and peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity radiculopathy and peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral hearing loss as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.,The Board also denied an evaluation in excess of 10 percent prior to January 4, 2011 for lumbar spine disability, a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to May 17, 2012 for lumbar spine disability, and a rating in excess of 40 percent since May 17, 2012 for lumbar spine disability.,The Board found that the Veteran did not have current diagnoses of cervical spine disorder, left upper extremity radiculopathy and peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity radiculopathy and peripheral neuropathy, or bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a back condition, asthma, radiculopathy, right lower extremity, hypertension, and heart condition have been dismissed due to the absence of a case or controversy.,Entitlement to service connection has been granted for lumbosacral strain with a 10 percent rating, asthma with a 30 percent rating, sciatic nerve and femoral nerve of bilateral lower extremities with a 40 percent and 20 percent ratings respectively.

The Veteran's TDIU rating is granted, and service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy is denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error and because of an inadequate consideration of his medical history in the July 2018 VA examination. The case is now back before the Board.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate VA examinations. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's lumbosacral strain had its onset during active duty service and is related to his current condition.