Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for interstitial lung disease, hypothyroidism (claimed as a thyroid condition secondary to agent orange exposure), posttraumatic stress disorder, keratoacanthoma, basal cell carcinomas, seborrheic keratosis, actinic keratosis (pre-cancerous skin lesions), and right sciatic nerve condition associated with low back strain. The Board also remanded the claims for service connection for COD and DIC benefits.

The Board has remanded four issues related to service connection: an acquired psychiatric disorder, irritable colon syndrome, IVDS, and sciatic neuropathy of the right lower extremity. The Veteran's claims for PTSD and MDD are based on private evaluations finding that he meets DSM-5 criteria for PTSD. For gastrointestinal and low back disorders, VA examinations are needed to determine if they are related to service. Regarding sciatic neuropathy, a medical opinion is required if IVDS is established.

The Board denied service connection for a right foot disability and sciatica of the right leg, finding no evidence of these conditions in service or related to service. The claim for reopening of low back disability was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for thoracolumbar spine disability and left and right lower extremity radiculopathy (numbness) as secondary to his service-connected left knee injury. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of left knee injury was also denied.,The Board found that the Veteran's current back condition is not related to his active duty service or to his service-connected left knee disability, and thus denied service connection on both direct and secondary bases.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to lack of contact with the Veteran and incomplete examination records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss has been reopened and granted. The claims for Meniere’s disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease/Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include generalized anxiety disorder), cirrhosis of the liver, a left shoulder disability, and radiculopathy of the left upper extremity are all remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for left upper extremity radiculopathy as secondary to service-connected cervical spine arthritis. Service connection was denied for a left hand disability other than left upper extremity radiculopathy and for a left leg disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to assess current functional impairment resulting from his service-connected lumbar spine disability, including any associated neurological impairment.

The Board has found that more development is necessary and the case must be remanded for issuance of a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) to address the increased rating claim for chronic lumbar strain.

The Veteran's increased ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted, with a 20% rating each. The restoration of the 20% rating for his back disability effective August 12, 2016 has also been granted.,The Veteran’s claim for an increased rating in excess of 20% for his back disability is remanded and will be adjudicated again.

The Veteran's kyphosis associated with wedge deformity, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, breathing and respiratory issues, and abdominal pain and other digestive issues have been granted service connection. The Veteran was also granted an increased rating for his kyphosis condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disability, right and left lumbar radiculopathy due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy is granted. The appeal is allowed to that extent only.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including traumatic arthritis of his lumbosacral spine, entrapment of the lumbar nerve root in his left lower extremity, radiculopathy of his right lower extremity, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, preclude him from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU rating.

The appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for sleep apnea is granted. The claims for bilateral ankle disability and bilateral knee disability are denied, but the low back disability with right side radiculopathy remains under review.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 10 percent prior to July 10, 2019 and at 20 percent thereafter. The rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity remains at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded three separate claims for increased ratings: lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The Veteran is to be provided with a VA examination to assess the severity of his lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied service connection for radiculopathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, as well as a heart disorder, finding no current diagnosis in the medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine disorders, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and chronic pain syndrome (claimed as Gulf War unexplained illness).

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for lumbosacral strain with posterior disc bulge and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to additional evidence being added to the record. The case will be returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for review.