Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to adequately attend to his daily living needs without regular aid and attendance, thus granting special monthly compensation based on this need.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of anal fissures, DDD of the thoracolumbar spine, right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and right lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy was dismissed. The VA granted a 40% rating for DDD of the thoracolumbar spine effective June 12, 2015.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a lumbar spine disorder due to the need for additional medical opinions and records, including those from his service period.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and associated left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve is granted with an effective date of August 28, 2017.,Service connection for bilateral shin splints is remanded due to inadequate medical opinion.,Service connection for bilateral foot disorder, to include plantar fasciitis and bunions, is remanded due to inadequate medical opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disorder, neck disorder, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, obstructive sleep apnea, COPD, and nasal condition.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining treatment records within one year of January 19, 2016, and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and right leg sciatica, finding that the evidence did not support a link to active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected disabilities, including hypertension and unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder. The decision grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service records are unavailable due to a fire at the National Personnel Records Center. The Board is remanding the claims for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and conducting VA examinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of left knee disability, pilonidal cyst, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and radiculopathy of the right upper extremity due to lack of competent evidence showing these conditions are related to military service.

The Board has granted reopening of the previously denied claims for service connection for tinnitus and a lumbar spine disorder. Service connection is also granted for tinnitus, but denied for heart disorder, headache disorder, residuals of head injury, right leg disorder (excluding sciatica), obstructive sleep apnea, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim for a rating greater than 30 percent for bowel impairment prior to January 5, 2015 was denied. The Veteran also sought SMC-R1 based on paraplegia with loss of bowel and bladder movement and the need for aid and attendance prior to January 5, 2015, but this claim was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left hip disorder was reopened, and he is now rated at 40 percent for lumbar spine arthritis with DDD and IVDS from June 11, 2014 to September 4, 2018. He also received separate ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy of both the femoral and sciatic nerves.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board has remanded the case for additional development due to lack of evidence meeting the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the cases of an increased rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy and an earlier effective date, as well as the TDIU claim due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran is required to undergo a VA examination for his service-connected right lower extremity radiculopathy and the TDIU claim must be deferred until further action on the issue of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as anxiety and depression, secondary to the Veteran's service-connected orthopedic disabilities. The appeal is dismissed for all other issues.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for a VA examination and opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's residuals of fracture of the left 5th digit, as well as whether his claimed conditions are related to military service.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy of both lower extremities, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on functional loss due to pain or other factors.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease (DDD) was previously rated at 20 percent prior to November 1, 2011. The Board has remanded the issue for further review.,Right lower extremity radiculopathy was previously rated at 40 percent effective July 14, 2017. The Board has remanded this issue for further review.,Left lower extremity radiculopathy was previously rated at 40 percent effective December 24, 2014. The Board has remanded this issue for further review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection, increased rating, and TDIU are remanded due to inadequate opinions in the prior VA examinations and hearing testimony not being considered.