Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including back pain and nerve damage, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded for additional examination to determine the current severity of his conditions, as well as a TDIU claim is also being remanded due to the possibility that he may be unemployable due to these disabilities.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right sciatic nerve has not been manifested by severe incomplete paralysis, and a rating in excess of 40 percent is denied. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is remanded.

The Veteran's back and neck disabilities are rated at the maximum available rating of 20 percent each, with no higher ratings granted.,The Veteran's radiculopathy in both upper extremities is rated at the maximum available rating of 70 percent for the right side and 60 percent for the left side.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's migraines, radiculopathy in his lower extremities, and whether they are related to service or secondary to his service-connected low back disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection awards due to a lack of evidence supporting an earlier date.

The Board has remanded the issues of reducing disability ratings for service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome, upper extremity radiculopathy, and cervical spine with intervertebral disc syndrome. The issue of service connection for PTSD is also being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's service connection claims for lumbar spine disorder, bilateral lower extremity lumbar spine radiculopathy, cervical spine disorder, and bilateral upper extremity cervical spine radiculopathy due to lack of development regarding his reported assault during service and incomplete medical records.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to errors in obtaining medical records. The Veteran's claims of service connection for left lower extremity neuropathy, radiculopathy, and a lumbar myositis with HNP are now pending.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected low back disability and scar, as well as a TDIU claim due to his combined disability percentage. The current VA examination reports are inadequate.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent prior to June 20, 2018 and 40 percent from that date. The Board finds the evidence does not support a higher rating for any of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for back injury, obstructive sleep apnea, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted. The Veteran is also awarded a 30 percent rating for his right knee osteoarthritis since December 1, 2015.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his service-connected spondylolysis of L5, with spondylolisthesis of L5 on S1, and left lower extremity radiculopathy prior to November 14, 2016. The issues are being remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for low back strain with degenerative disc disease and sciatica of the right lower extremity due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for more contemporaneous medical examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left sciatic radiculopathy, lumbar degenerative disc disease, right hammer toes, and left hammer toes were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his symptoms.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy and urinary disability (benign prostate hypertrophy) as secondary to his service-connected back disability. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for cervical radiculopathy of the upper extremities, a cervical spine disability, and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than March 7, 2014 for the grants of service connection for various conditions associated with his back disability have been denied. The Board found that there was no evidence in the claims file prior to March 7, 2014 warranting an earlier effective date.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for spinal fusion with degenerative arthritis of the spine from March 7, 2014 to December 27, 2018 has been denied. The Board found that he did not meet the criteria for such a rating.

The Board has granted the appellant's application to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for a low back disability and has also granted him service connection for this condition. The appeal regarding service connection for a ganglion cyst in the right wrist is remanded.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is granted with a disability rating of 40 percent effective December 19, 2017. A TDIU is also granted effective December 19, 2017.,Service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy is not addressed in this decision.