Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and right leg sciatic nerve paralysis as secondary to the low back disability, finding that all reasonable doubt is resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection has been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed due to her withdrawal of all issues on appeal prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's low back disability with radiculopathy is related to his service, specifically combat boot road marches and physical fitness training.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for service-connected left ear hearing loss was denied.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than May 5, 2014, for the grant of a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to May 12, 2014 for service connection of radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) in his right lower extremity as secondary to his service-connected herniated nucleus pulposus L5-S1 with intervertebral disc syndrome. The Board found that the earliest possible effective date was May 12, 2014, which is when the Veteran submitted a formal claim for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than August 16, 2016, for the grants of service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, and radiculopathy of the lower left extremity were denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD was denied.,The Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied.,The Veteran's claim for a 20 percent rating for radiculopathy of the lower left extremity was granted, subject to further review.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU was granted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (MDD and PTSD) is granted service connection. The left wrist fracture, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy are all rated at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and cervical radiculopathy due to inadequate medical opinions regarding causation and aggravation.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his low back disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating than 20 percent for either condition.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is currently rated at 40 percent, and a higher rating is denied. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity remains at 20 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's back disability and his service. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy is dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for lumbar spine spondylosis prior to March 17, 2016 was granted with a 40 percent rating. Separate ratings of 10 percent were assigned for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy from September 30, 2013 to March 17, 2016. The case is remanded for further action regarding the Veteran's TDIU claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome with strain with degenerative arthritis and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the claims for PTSD, lumbar degenerative disc disease and strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, left thumb ulnar collateral ligament surgery, status post reconstruction/fusion with ankylosis, left thumb sensory neuropathy, and ganglion cyst, left ankle due to outstanding VA medical records from the Little Rock VA Medical Center not being associated with the claims file.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability and associated bilateral peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities due to new evidence indicating worsening symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability, left lumbar radiculopathy, and PTSD have rendered him unable to maintain gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined impact of these conditions.