Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity and remanded the issues regarding left lower extremity radiculopathy and evaluation in excess of 30 percent for residuals of lacerations of the right radial nerve.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine disability and right upper extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding functional loss over time and during flare-ups.

The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 60 percent, effective January 21, 2011. Service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine on a causation basis is granted.

The Veteran's request for an earlier effective date and a higher initial rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy is denied. The claim was not filed prior to January 20, 2016.

The Board has granted service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during active service.

The appeal of whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim for radiculopathy of the right upper extremity is dismissed.,The appeals of entitlement to service connection for skin condition, to include as due to Gulf War Syndrome, are dismissed.

The Veteran's neck scar is granted an initial rating of 10 percent, but no higher.,The effective date for the grant of service connection for a neck scar disability is denied.

The Veteran's claim for left lower extremity radiculopathy was denied as there is no current evidence of this condition.,The Veteran's heart disorder claim was denied because the preponderance of the evidence indicates that his current heart disorders did not relate to service.

The Board has denied a higher disability rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, finding that the overall disability picture is more closely approximated by mild incomplete paralysis.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with L5-S1 synovial facet cyst and left lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the service-connected lumbar spine condition.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including tinnitus, alcohol abuse, traumatic brain injury, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, right hip condition, left hip osteoarthritis, right sciatica, left sciatica, bilateral leg disability, and an acquired psychiatric disability. The decision also denied a request for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to limited range of motion and no indication of more severe symptoms.,RLE radiculopathy is currently rated at 10 percent, while LLE radiculopathy is rated at 20 percent. The Board determined these ratings are appropriate given the mild severity of the Veteran's symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded three issues: PTSD with major depression, dementia, and alcohol abuse; post laminectomy syndrome, status post lumbar laminectomy and diskectomy; and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity. The Veteran needs to provide updated treatment records and undergo VA examinations for his psychiatric disorder and spine disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity and left lower extremity is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity and left upper extremity due to diabetes mellitus, type II, is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative osteoarthritic changes and right L5 radiculopathy due to a lack of a VA examination, as well as incomplete development of his service treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease has been granted, along with service connection for fibromyalgia, acquired psychiatric disability (mood disorder and unspecified depressive disorder), bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, irritable bowel syndrome, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity arthropathy, left lower extremity arthropathy, and chronic pain.,The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is remanded due to the grant of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his attorney. The appeal for TDIU is being remanded.

The Board has determined that another remand is necessary due to the inadequacy of the March 2019 VA examiner's opinion and the need for an addendum opinion. The Veteran’s claims for service connection for right and left hand disorders other than radiculopathy are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD with secondary MDD and history of alcohol use disorder is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The ratings for diabetes mellitus type II, associated left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and associated right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy remain denied.