Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinion regarding whether the Veteran's RLE radiculopathy is aggravated by his service-connected bilateral foot disabilities.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for the period from May 23, 2016 to August 29, 2017 was denied as he was employed during this time and not in marginal employment. The right knee disability claim is remanded for a new VA examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for radiculopathy of the cervical spine, right upper extremity; radiculopathy of the cervical spine, left upper extremity; and degenerative disc disease cervical spine. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy/ neuropathy as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise that the current condition was caused or aggravated by his service-connected back disability.

The Board has determined that the reduction in ratings for right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right knee instability were not proper. The Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased evaluations for right knee scars and left femur surgical scars are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations and earlier effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,The Veteran is also facing issues related to a TDIU, DEA benefits, and SMC at the housebound rate.

The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected, and his DIC benefits claim under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 was denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination due to incomplete records and failure to comply with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right and left upper extremities, as well as radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, were denied. The Veteran's service-connected low back disorder was also denied a higher rating.,The Veteran's service-connected conditions are currently rated at 10 percent each.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for kidney disability and bilateral pes planus of the feet have been dismissed. The remaining issues, including those related to gastrointestinal and respiratory disabilities, are remanded.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his back disability was granted, and he is now receiving a 20% rating effective June 4, 2014. Separate ratings of 10% each were also granted for left and right lumbar radiculopathy.

The Veteran is granted a separate 10 percent disability rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy from April 4, 2013 to November 30, 2016. From December 1, 2016 onwards, the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for TDIU, increased evaluation of back disability, and increased evaluation of bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy due to lack of timely notice of disagreement (NOD).

The Veteran's neck and left upper extremity radiculopathy disabilities are remanded for further evaluation due to recent assertions of increased severity.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left carpal tunnel syndrome and right carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as his claims for increased ratings for left hip strain and tendonitis with painful motion and limited left hip flexion.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for bilateral shin splints, a disability manifested by bilateral shooting leg pains, costochondritis, and bilateral breast cysts due to incomplete VA examinations. The Veteran's recent VA treatment records are not addressed in the previous examinations.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to re-open claims for service connection for low back disability, neck disability, bilateral knee disability, lumbar radiculopathy, and hypertension. The claims are remanded for additional development including examinations.

The Veteran's claim for separate compensable ratings for left and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy prior to October 5, 2014 is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for spondylolisthesis, lumbar spine spondylolisthesis and DJD (L4-5, L5-S1), radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity have been denied. The appeals are based on direct service connection.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus, onychomycosis and tinea pedis.,The Veteran's headaches and neck disorder are remanded as they may be related to his claimed pseudo tumor celebri and upper extremity radiculopathy.