Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board has determined that the VA examinations are incomplete and requires further medical guidance due to a recent court decision. Additionally, there is evidence of worsening since the last examination. Therefore, the claims are being remanded for additional evaluations.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been remanded for further evaluation. The effective date of service connection for a scar of the lower back has also been remanded, as well as an initial rating for that scar.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful employment since September 18, 2015.

Effective date prior to June 26, 2017 for service connection of lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, surgical scars, and panic disorder and agoraphobia are denied as a matter of law.

The Veteran's PTSD with associated panic attacks and depression is granted at a rating of 70 percent, effective from the date his claim was received by VA. The other service-connected disabilities have their ratings either denied or unchanged.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is denied, while her claim for a 40 percent rating for neuropathy, right lower extremity (ranging from mild to severe incomplete paralysis) is granted.

The petition to reopen the appeal for entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The petition to reopen the appeal for entitlement to service connection for right knee pain is reopened and the claim for service connection for right knee pain is denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus, lumbar spine scoliosis and arthritis, cervical spine arthritis, radiculopathy of the upper left extremity, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity have been granted service connection and increased ratings. The Veteran received a 40 percent disability rating for her lumbar spine scoliosis and arthritis as of January 19, 2018.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are granted. The rating assigned is 10%.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine stenosis, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and schizoaffective disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected disabilities was granted with effective dates of June 28, 2011. The Veteran is now entitled to separate ratings for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, as well as limitations in extension and flexion of both hips.

The Veteran's eligibility for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation is remanded due to additional mobility problems associated with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. The Board finds a need for a new VA examination to evaluate the current severity of his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to ambulate.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's ability to sit for extended periods of time and his foot disabilities' impact on sleep, as well as the need for updated medical records and evaluations.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to final adjudication of the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and effective dates for his service-connected right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, femoral nerve peripheral neuropathy, and housebound rate.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for various service-connected disabilities as the Veteran did not file a proper claim prior to February 17, 2016.

The Board has decided that the appellant does not have a bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and denied service connection for this condition. The other issues on appeal are remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective June 30, 2011. The Board found that the Veteran did not have any adjudicated service-connected disabilities prior to this date and thus denied an earlier effective date.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of increased evaluations for his service-connected low back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy and neuralgia of the sciatic nerve, varicose veins of the left leg, and liver disability. These matters are being remanded to allow for further examination and evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are now granted. The left lower extremity radiculopathy is found to be related to the service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate statements of reasons and bases in their previous decisions.,Further development is required as there are inconsistencies between the Board's decision and evidence from the Veteran's service records.