Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and lumbar spine disability, prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment. The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's radiculopathy in the right lower extremity was not caused or aggravated by VA fault or negligence, and there is no evidence of an unforeseen event. Therefore, compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 has not been met.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including rating claims and service connection requests. The AOJ is instructed to obtain any available Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left sciatic nerve involvement and bilateral post-herpetic pain syndrome were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the current manifestations of these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, asthma, heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, lumbar spine disability with associated radiculopathy, right shoulder disability, bilateral ocular disability (claimed as an eye condition), chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, and prostate disability.,The Veteran's service records do not show any complaints or diagnoses of these conditions during his military service. The VA audiology examination in March 2016 found normal hearing for both ears.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and readjudication due to issues being inextricably intertwined with a low back disability claim.

The Veteran's PTSD, with other specified trauma and stressor related disorder and unspecified depressive disorder, is rated at 70 percent for the entire period on appeal. The rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy remains at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for various knee disabilities, depression, and radiculopathy due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than March 18, 2009 for the award of service connection and a separate disability rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy is denied. The claim for an effective date earlier than February 11, 2014 for the award of service connection for tension headaches is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple issues has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of the appeal by his representative.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, degenerative arthritis of the knees, and other specified depressive disorder have all been denied as not related to service or otherwise supported by evidence.

The Veteran's left and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted effective from September 13, 2011. A 40% rating has also been assigned for the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is now rated at 40 percent from December 15, 2015. His bilateral hearing loss has been granted service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disorders, which may be related to his in-service injury.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis and sciatic nerve problems, finding no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's time in service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for back strain, lower extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU due to incomplete development of evidence and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and neurological disability of the feet, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to active duty service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spinal stenosis and left lumbar radiculopathy due to concerns about the validity of the findings from a previous VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, lower extremity radiculopathy, varicocele, laceration of the scalp, right shoulder separation (postoperative), and left shoulder impingement syndrome were denied. The Veteran was granted separate ratings for RLE and LLE radiculopathy involving the sciatic nerve, but his claims for higher ratings or effective dates were not supported by evidence.