Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board has remanded cases involving service connection for headaches, right shoulder disability, low back disability, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has granted a 20% rating for cervical spine stenosis, denied service connection for radiculopathy of the left hand, and remanded issues regarding degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and sinusitis. The Veteran is to be scheduled for additional examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for his low back condition and left lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as his claim for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, was granted. The Veteran is now rated at 40 percent for his low back condition and 10 percent for his left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to the need for updated VA treatment records and examinations to assess the severity of the Veteran's disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his entitlement to SMC based on the need of aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities, as well as for a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his headaches.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's spine degenerative arthritis, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy claims due to inadequate VA examination findings. The case is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has precluded him from securing and following any substantially gainful occupation since January 22, 2015. The Board granted a TDIU based on the PTSD disability. Additionally, the Veteran is entitled to SMC at the housebound rate due to his combined 100 percent schedular rating for service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for left shoulder disability, umbilical hernia, and left upper extremity radiculopathy are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, residuals of a fractured right clavicle, neurological disabilities of the left leg and upper extremity, headaches, and primary insomnia are all remanded for further development.,Specifically, the Veteran needs to be examined to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for thromboembolic disease and dismissed the claim for lower extremity radiculopathy. The cervical radiculopathy issue is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of right upper extremity radiculopathy, and therefore, there is no basis for service connection.

The Veteran's sciatica of the left lower extremity is rated at 60 percent, effective from January 13, 2016. The Board also granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than January 31, 2017 have been denied as there is no evidence of an earlier claim. The Board also found that the lumbar spine DDD with IVDS disability did not warrant a higher rating prior to January 31, 2017 and remanded for further examination.

The Board has decided that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's sciatica, including any radiculopathy in his bilateral lower extremities, is related to his service-connected right knee strain.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection is dismissed as moot because the earliest possible effective date, November 1, 2012, has already been granted. The Board finds no error of fact or law to consider.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and readjudication due to inadequate examinations in the previous rating decisions.

The Veteran's service-connected back and lower extremity disabilities rendered him unemployable from September 21, 2006 through September 15, 2008. The Board granted an extraschedular TDIU rating based on the benefit of the doubt.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, finding that there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities are being remanded due to new evidence and testimony.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar disc disease, right side and left side lumbar radiculopathy have been denied. The effective date of the awards has not been granted prior to January 17, 2007.