Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a stomach disability was previously denied, but reopened and denied again due to lack of new and material evidence. The radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is rated at 20 percent.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings on his residual painful scar, linear scar (secondary to service-connected condition), and healed fracture right malleolus are all remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU is granted as of June 17, 2016 due to marginal employment. Prior to that date, his income was above the poverty level and he had been employed full-time.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented her from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation due to her mental and physical impairments.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for increased ratings and effective dates related to lower extremity radiculopathy and intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as his service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's initial ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathies, lumbar spine spondylosis and degenerative disc disease, as well as his ankle disabilities, chronic fatigue syndrome, gastrointestinal symptoms, dysphagia, GERD, headache disorder, heart disorder, high blood pressure, muscle and joint pain, neurological disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder are all denied. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD prior to March 3, 2016 and from that date has been dismissed. The Board also remanded the issue of entitlement to SMC based on aid and attendance.

The Board denied service connection for an unspecified depressive disorder as it was not caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The claims of increased ratings and TDIU were also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for DDD of the cervical spine, left arm radiculopathy, right arm radiculopathy, left leg radiculopathy, and right leg radiculopathy. Service connection was also granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety, depression, PTSD, and major neurocognitive disorder).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to new evidence showing worsening of his cervical spine, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and status post cervical surgery scar conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for sciatica in his left lower extremity and an initial compensable rating for acute prostatitis due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the claim of bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, which was secondary to service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded in several areas including separate ratings for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities and entitlement to special monthly compensation due to a need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's low back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral hearing loss are currently rated as 10 percent each. The Board denied increased ratings for these conditions.,Service connection for a traumatic brain injury (TBI), migraine headaches secondary to TBI, and an acquired psychiatric disorder secondary to TBI was not granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence of record regarding his right knee and right leg disorders. The earlier effective date claim is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew it during the hearing.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluation of lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, spinal stenosis, spondylitis and facet arthroplasty evaluated at 20 percent disabling, service connection for PTSD, service connection for radiculopathy of the sciatic and femoral nerves of the right lower extremity, and service connection for radiculopathy of the sciatic and femoral nerves of the left lower extremity are all denied as there is no evidence showing that a formal or informal claim was received prior to March 29, 2017.,The Veteran's claims for increased evaluation of lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, spinal stenosis, spondylitis and facet arthroplasty evaluated at 20 percent disabling, service connection for PTSD, service connection for radiculopathy of the sciatic and femoral nerves of the right lower extremity, and service connection for radiculopathy of the sciatic and femoral nerves of the left lower extremity are all denied as there is no evidence showing that a formal or informal claim was received prior to March 29, 2017.,The Veteran's claims for increased evaluation of lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, spinal stenosis, spondylitis and facet arthroplasty evaluated at 20 percent disabling, service connection for PTSD, service connection for radiculopathy of the sciatic and femoral nerves of the right lower extremity, and service connection for radiculopathy of the sciatic and femoral nerves of the left lower extremity are all denied as there is no evidence showing that a formal or informal claim was received prior to March 29, 2017.,The Veteran's claims for increased evaluation of lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, spinal stenosis, spondylitis and facet arthroplasty evaluated at 20 percent disabling, service connection for PTSD, service connection for radiculopathy of the sciatic and femoral nerves of the right lower extremity, and service connection for radiculopathy of the sciatic and femoral nerves of the left lower extremity are all denied as there is no evidence showing that a formal or informal claim was received prior to March 29, 2017.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a lumbar condition and left leg sciatica are remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing new VA examinations.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has found that this rating is not appropriate. The appeal for a higher rating remains pending.,The Veteran's left and right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve have been remanded to allow for further examination and evaluation.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from March 15, 2005. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of that date.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back disorder, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature of the injuries and their relationship to service.