Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for his left lower extremity radiculopathy and TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral sciatica, upper extremity radiculopathy, and migraine headaches are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU for the period from May 4, 2009 to June 11, 2014 due to his service-connected back disability and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for chronic low back pain and right lower extremity radiculopathy was denied. A separate rating of 10 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted from November 18, 2013.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of a separate rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy is denied. The Board has also remanded the issue of entitlement to total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with radiculopathy, claimed as back and leg problems, is related to his August 2002 hernia surgery. The Board has determined that this qualifies for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Veteran's OSA is granted as secondary to pain from her service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's depression, migraine headaches, and thoracolumbar strain with IVDS are all found to be proximately due to her service-connected conditions. The Veteran's tinnitus claim is denied. Other claims for increased ratings have been decided in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's current diagnoses of degenerative disc disease (DDD) of his cervical spine and associated radiculopathy of the left upper extremity are granted as service connected.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for lumbago and herniated disc with degenerative disc disease (L4-5 lumbar spine disability) from May 6, 2016. The right lower extremity radiculopathy was denied.

The Board dismissed the appeals for increased ratings of left elbow epicondylitis and remanded the service connection claim for right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied service connection for low back disability, sinus disability, IBS, acid reflux, headache disability, and sciatica as they were not shown to be related to service.,Service connection was also denied for a right arm disability.

The Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and GERD have been granted service connection. The right ankle disability has not met the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded both claims for service connection due to the need for additional evidence and a new examination. The low back disability claim is related to INACDUTRA on March 13, 2016, while the sciatica claim must be considered in light of the current status of the low back disability claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence of worsening symptoms and potential misdiagnoses. The Veteran's right leg disability, neurological conditions in both arms, and left ankle condition are being evaluated further.

The appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for the left knee condition is dismissed.,An initial 20 percent rating, prior to February 9, 2017, and a 40 percent rating, effective from February 9, 2017, are granted for chronic mild DJD and DDD of the lumbar spine. The appeal for a higher rating is denied.,A 30 percent rating for radiculopathy of the left upper extremity is granted.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including asbestos exposure, low back disability, sciatic nerve impingement, cervical spondylitis, sarcoidosis, diabetes, hypertension, and migraine headaches are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a neck disability, sciatica of the left leg, muscle twitching, bilateral hand numbness, and right lower extremity numbness. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and evaluations due to the possibility of worsening of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been granted. The cervical spine disability, bilateral upper extremity neuropathy, and radiculopathy of the lower extremities are all reopened. However, initial rating increases in excess of 10 percent prior to June 11, 2010, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities have been denied.

The Veteran's initial ratings for degenerative disc disease of lumbar spine and left lower extremity sciatica are being remanded due to incomplete VA examination reports, lack of Social Security Administration records, and the need for a new VA spine examination.