Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, lumbosacral strain, and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to new evidence showing potential worsening of his conditions. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's left eye disability is not service-connected.,For the period beginning January 31, 2005 to September 2, 2010, a 20 percent rating for gout was granted. Beginning September 2, 2010, no higher rating is warranted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, particularly those related to parachute landings in service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy was denied.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than January 20, 2017 for the grant of a separate initial 10 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy was also denied.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left and right upper extremities, as well as his lower extremities (sciatic nerve), have been granted increased ratings. Separate ratings for the femoral nerve are also granted.

The Veteran's initial ratings for his service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome with spondylolisthesis of lumbar spine and left lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for further evidence and examination.

The Veteran's head trauma to include TBI is granted as service-connected.,There is no current diagnosis of residuals from a fall to include left rib injury, and the claim for this issue is denied.,Service connection for radiculopathy/neuropathy of the arms is denied.,Service connection for radiculopathy/neuropathy of the legs is denied.,Service connection for back injury is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial, compensable rating for service-connected painful scars of the right knee was dismissed as he withdrew his claim.,The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for left knee disability was denied because no new and material evidence was submitted after the July 2008 Board decision.,The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for radiculopathy with nerve involvement affecting bilateral lower extremities was denied as his claim was implicitly denied in the July 2008 Board decision.

The Veteran's low back disability, left lumbar radiculopathy, and bilateral plantar fasciitis with bilateral plantar spurs and left calcaneal bursitis have been granted initial ratings of 20 percent. The Veteran's overactive bladder has been granted an initial rating of 40 percent.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is granted as service-connected. The cases of rating higher for low back and radiculopathy disabilities, and determining effective dates are remanded.

All four issues on appeal (service connection for thoracolumbar and cervical spine disabilities, and right and left upper extremity radiculopathy) have been denied as they are considered final decisions based on the timing of the Veteran's initial service connection grants.

A rating higher than 40 percent for lumbosacral sprain with degenerative disc disease prior to March 9, 2016, and higher than 10 percent thereafter is denied.,An initial rating higher than 20 percent for left leg radiculopathy from March 9, 2016 is denied.,An initial rating higher than 20 percent for right leg radiculopathy from March 9, 2016 is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine, bilateral shoulder, and bilateral arm disorders due to outstanding VA and private treatment records. The Veteran's service connection claims will be adjudicated again after obtaining additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate VA examinations and incomplete opinions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder disability, sciatica of the left lower extremity, and sciatica of the right lower extremity due to a lack of competent and credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective May 5, 2017. The decision is based on the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, and his TDIU claim is granted effective September 13, 2018. The issue of an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine DDD and disc disease with compression fracture at L4 is remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal before a decision was made.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, and no jurisdiction remains for adjudicating the merits of the claims.

The Veteran's initial rating for his service-connected low back disability is granted at a 40 percent, but no higher. The case is remanded for further action on the issues of entitlement to separate ratings for radiculopathy and TDIU.