Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's onychomycosis of the bilateral toenails and left leg radiculopathy have been granted increased ratings. The onychomycosis is rated at 10 percent, while the left leg radiculopathy is rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied prior to August 22, 2018 and remanded for further development due to insufficient information on his employability from that date forward.

The Veteran's right shoulder disorder is denied as there is no evidence of injury during service and the earliest documented chronic condition is several years after service.,The Veteran's sciatic radiculopathy was rated at 20% effective January 5, 2016, based on a VA peripheral nerve examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and lumbar spine spondylosis with degenerative disc disease due to inadequate examinations and incomplete evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been shown to preclude substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that a TDIU on an extraschedular basis is warranted.

A rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spondylosis is denied.,A rating of 20 percent, but no higher, for left lower radiculopathy is granted, subject to the laws and regulations governing the payment of monetary benefits.,A rating of 20 percent, but no higher, for right lower radiculopathy is granted, subject to the laws and regulations governing the payment of monetary benefits.

The Veteran's IVDS and bilateral radiculopathies have been rated, but the appeals for increased ratings are denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for low back disability and radiculopathy into the lower extremities, including on an extraschedular basis, are being remanded due to insufficient examination findings. Additional development is required, including obtaining new VA examinations by spine specialists or orthopedists.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, but the issues of entitlement to service connection for various disabilities remain pending and need further examination.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral wrist tenosynovitis has been reopened and granted.,Service connection for a lumbar spine disorder is denied as the condition did not manifest within one year of service discharge and there is no evidence of continuity of symptomatology. The Board finds that the Veteran’s current back disability is more likely related to his civilian work rather than service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected right wrist condition, residual scars, and carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's claim for residuals of a head injury was denied as there is no evidence of chronic residuals from the 1974 Carlinville, Illinois car wreck.,Service connection for thoracolumbar DDD with radiculopathy was denied due to lack of service origin and post-service low back injuries. The Veteran's current condition is unrelated to his military service.,The claim for glaucoma, claimed as increased intraocular pressure, was denied because the evidence does not show a service origin for the condition.,Service connection for hypertension was denied due to lack of service origin.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for RLE radiculopathy, sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD and lumbar spine disorder, and DMII is granted. The Veteran has been assigned a 50% rating for PTSD effective from June 26, 2018.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left leg disability, including his service-connected lumbar spine disability and left foot drop.

The Board dismissed all appeals as the Veteran withdrew his appeal in April 2019.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy is being remanded due to the need for additional development.,Service connection was denied for all claimed conditions as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings for left and right lumbar radiculopathy have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claims prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran was granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the (l) level based on need for regular aid and attendance of another person due to service-connected disabilities from April 19, 2007, to March 19, 2012.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected, and the back disability and radiculopathy claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's claims for higher ratings and TDIU, as the current examination reports do not provide sufficient information regarding functional loss due to flare-ups and repeated use over time.