Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his service-connected disabilities, including mental health conditions, GERD, hearing loss, ankle and spine disabilities, as well as a heart disability. The RO has not yet addressed the earlier effective dates for these conditions and is remanded to do so.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been granted service connection. The issues of service connection for PTSD and a thoracolumbar spine disorder have been remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to March 22, 2017. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether he can secure or follow such an occupation.

The Veteran's initial rating for a lumbar spine disorder is granted at 40 percent, effective from the date of this decision. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is also granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 50% disability rating, and service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The other issues are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's back disability. The claim was reopened due to new evidence submitted more than one year after the last final denial.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities were rated at 20 percent prior to September 27, 2018. Since then, a rating of 40 percent has been granted for the RLE, but no greater.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for radiculopathy of both lower extremities, finding that additional development is needed due to inadequate VA examination opinions.

The Board has remanded the cases due to an error in determining the effective date for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The Court directed the Board to determine if the Veteran had radiculopathy of either lower extremity prior to April 11, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities make him unemployable, and the Board has granted a TDIU effective from March 23, 2007.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected lumbar condition and right leg radiculopathy are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. A new examination is required to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records.

The Veteran's left upper extremity radiculopathy is granted as secondary to his service-connected cervical spine disorder. The evaluation for post laminectomy syndrome remains unchanged, with a 60 percent disability rating from October 15, 2010 to October 28, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right-knee orthopedic disability and neuropathy are remanded due to the need for clarification of symptoms attributed to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate VA examinations and new evidence of worsening symptoms.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for a new VA examination due to the lack of recent medical records and to assess the current severity of the Veteran's right and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to inadequate examinations in previous rating decisions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment from February 24, 2017. The Board finds the Veteran is entitled to a TDIU effective that date.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for more current VA examinations and additional medical records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for DJD of the thoracolumbar spine and right lower extremity radiculopathy were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.