Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board granted service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, effective January 6, 2010, and a 40 percent evaluation for lumbar osteoarthritis L5/S1 (previously diagnosed as degenerative disc disease and spondylosis of L4-5 and L5-S1), effective February 29, 2008.

The Board dismissed the appeals for increased ratings of left and right shoulder degenerative joint diseases, abdominal scars, and right knee instability. The claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss were denied. The Veteran's right knee instability was granted a 10 percent rating from April 18, 2013, and a 20 percent rating from May 31, 2018. The claims for femoral nerve radiculopathies are remanded.

The Board has found the VA examinations inadequate and remanded for further evaluations, including a new examination to assess the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability. The TDIU issue is also being remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but no higher.,The Veteran’s left upper extremity neuropathy and carpal tunnel syndrome are rated at 30 percent, but no higher.,The Veteran’s right upper extremity neuropathy and carpal tunnel syndrome were granted a rating of 40 percent prior to December 6, 2019, and denied from that date forward.,The Veteran's left lower extremity sciatic peripheral neuropathy was granted a rating of 40 percent prior to December 6, 2019, and denied from that date forward.,The Veteran’s right lower extremity sciatic peripheral neuropathy was granted a rating of 40 percent prior to December 6, 2019, and denied from that date forward.,The Veteran's left lower extremity femoral peripheral neuropathy was granted a rating of 20 percent prior to December 6, 2019, and denied from that date forward.,The Veteran’s right lower extremity femoral peripheral neuropathy was granted a rating of 20 percent prior to December 6, 2019, and denied from that date forward.

The Board has dismissed all issues of service connection for various disabilities as the Veteran did not allege specific errors of law or fact in the determinations.

The Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis as of September 6, 2010, finding that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from all substantially gainful employment prior to December 2, 2014.

The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder has been granted a 70 percent disability rating, and his radiculopathy of the left lower extremity has been granted a 10 percent disability rating. The case is remanded for further examination regarding sleep apnea, lumbosacral strain, and TDIU.,The Veteran's service connection claim for sleep apnea remains pending, as does his request for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain and radiculopathy of the lower extremities. The issue of a total disability rating based on unemployability is also pending.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including cervical spine disorder, cervical radiculopathy, right shoulder disorder, right upper extremity scars (armpit scars), back disorder, and right leg sciatica, as they were not related to the Veteran's period of honorable service from September 6, 2005 to November 25, 2008.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar degenerative disc disease and in excess of 10 percent for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity due to insufficient examination findings regarding flare-ups.

The Veteran's left and right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve are each rated at 20 percent, while his right upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the median nerve is rated at 30 percent. The Veteran’s left upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the median nerve is rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities and lumbar strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, have prevented him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including fibromyalgia and various hip, ankle, groin, eye, heart, and other conditions. The VA is required to obtain medical opinions regarding whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's flare-ups caused functional loss during the period from 2009 to 2017. The remaining issues on appeal are inextricably intertwined and must be developed together.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected low back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy have been denied as a matter of law due to the Veteran's failure to report for scheduled VA examinations. The claim for TDIU has also been denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective from November 12, 2016. The Veteran's depression disability with anxious distress is rated at 70 percent since March 2, 2017 and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back disability, left leg condition, and right leg radiculopathy due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The issues are related to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy and denied service connection for pre-ventricular contractions. The issue of an increased rating for coronary artery disease is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to address the issue of service connection for a psychiatric disorder. The Board finds that the current evaluation for left upper extremity radiculopathy should be granted at 30 percent, but no higher.

The Board denied service connection for a back condition, neck condition, and bilateral radiculopathy of the lower extremities. The Veteran's claims were not supported by medical evidence linking his current conditions to his active military service.,There is no direct evidence showing that the Veteran's current back, neck, or radiculopathy conditions are related to his time in the military.