Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, and his increased rating for lumbar spine disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left lower extremity sciatic nerve impairment. The issues of TDIU and SMC based on need for aid and attendance are also deferred due to their inextricably intertwined nature with the higher rating claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a TDIU are being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint/disc disease and left lower radiculopathy are rated at 40 percent, effective from July 18, 2013.

The Veteran's LLE RSD/radiculopathy caused severe incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve with muscle atrophy since February 2, 2012. The Board granted an initial rating of 60 percent for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating and service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity as secondary to his service-connected low back disability were both denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for the lumbar spine disability, but also noted that there was no evidence of incapacitating episodes of disc disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right upper extremity radiculopathy have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability due to his service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of peripheral neuropathy were denied.,The Veteran's claims for initial ratings greater than the currently assigned percentages for various disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and residuals of multiple basal cell carcinomas, were remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's cervical spondylosis is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.,The Veteran's left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome and cervical radiculopathy are currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board does not find any basis for an increased rating.,The Veteran's right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome is currently rated at 60 percent, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to the appellant's request for withdrawal of all issues in the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate examination and new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete medical records and need for new evaluations of his neck disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability and left leg disability (sciatic nerve), finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to her period of active military service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The decision also noted that some of the issues are related to a service-connected lumbar spine disorder, but these secondary claims have not been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation from July 25, 2017, to March 7, 2018.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and examination, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathy. The claims for service connection for Hepatitis C and TDIU are also remanded.

The Veteran's fracture of the L3 transverse process is rated at 20 percent. Service connection for other conditions, including a separate lumbosacral spine disability and peripheral vascular disabilities, are denied. Other service-connected issues remain pending.

The Veteran's initial increased rating claims for a lumbar spine disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve were denied.,A TDIU claim was also denied.

The Veteran's service connection for degenerative changes of the cervical spine is granted. The appeals for left hip disorder, cervical radiculopathy, and right hip strain are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling a VA examination to assess occupational impairment due to service-connected disabilities, and clarifying the relevance of the Veteran's participation on a tribal council. The TDIU issue is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the rating assigned for the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities.