Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board has denied service connection for a left foot disability and remanded the issue of service connection for lumbosacral spine degenerative joint disease with bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy due to lack of evidence establishing a current disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right arm disability has been granted. The Board found new and relevant evidence that tends to show the Veteran has this condition, which was not previously considered.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 20 percent, the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 5243. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating due to functional loss or ankylosis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence and the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU as it was granted with a January 16, 1996 effective date. The remaining claims of increased ratings for lumbar spine and bilateral lower extremity disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis is rated at 20 percent, and the Board has remanded for further development.,A separate disability rating of 10 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted effective February 14, 2020. The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy also received a 10 percent rating effective February 14, 2020.,The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to TDIU due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran’s employment and educational history.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting findings and a need for further clarification of the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed left lower extremity sciatic nerve damage, including whether it is related to service-connected lumbar spine and right lower extremity disabilities.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating available under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.,The Veteran’s left lower extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as there is no evidence of more than mild incomplete paralysis.,Prior to February 7, 2017, the Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy was rated at 10 percent. After February 7, 2017, it has been rated at 20 percent. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as there is no evidence of more than moderate incomplete paralysis.,The Veteran’s scars from lumbar spine surgery are currently rated at 0 percent and the claim for a compensable rating was denied.

The Veteran's back disability and associated radiculopathies of the lower extremities have been granted initial ratings, with some issues receiving separate ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to insufficient evidence from the previous VA examination.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar radiculopathy, left lower extremity (claimed as sciatica), to include as secondary to service-connected low back strain is remanded due to inadequate examination and need for a new opinion.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are related to hazardous noise exposure during service.,The Veteran's bladder cancer is related to herbicide exposure during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, secondary to a low back disability are denied as there is no evidence of a claim or intent to file a claim prior to March 19, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various shoulder disorders, radiculopathy of the left leg, and arthritis of the cervical spine have been denied as there is no evidence of any in-service injury or disease that could be linked to these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected left brachial plexus disease with radiculopathy may have worsened due to an increase in his nerve pain medication dosage. The Board has ordered a VA medical examination to assess the current severity of this condition.

The Veteran's claim for restoration of a 20 percent rating for degenerative joint disease L5-S1, disk space with traumatic arthritis L3 vertebrae, from November 30, 2009 to May 9, 2016 is granted. The initial increased rating and the rating in excess of 40 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy are both remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar spine spondylosis and strain are rated at 10 percent, with no higher rating granted. The left lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 20 percent from February 21, 2020, but no higher prior to that date.,The Veteran's acid reflux condition must be evaluated for service connection and an updated VA examination is required.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to an incomplete VA Form 20-0996 and a need for an addendum opinion regarding the appellant's back disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, back disability, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy. The claim for tinnitus was granted as at least as likely as not related to noise exposure during service.