Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve of the bilateral lower extremities, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to November 30, 2015 for service connection for depression and radiculopathy of the lower extremities have been denied as these claims were not filed before that date.,The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to November 30, 2015 for service connection for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities have also been denied. The Board notes there was no objective medical evidence of radiculopathy or other neurological disorder of the lower extremities prior to this date.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar degenerative joint and disc disease is granted a 40% evaluation, effective February 2, 2010. The left lower extremity radiculopathy associated with the back condition remains at a 20% evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been rated at 90 percent disabling since September 23, 2012. The Board has granted restoration of disability ratings for migraines, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, as well as TDIU from September 23, 2012 to September 22, 2013.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are also being remanded.

The Veteran's hypertension, cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as their associated radiculopathy, are remanded due to the need for updated medical records and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment, and the TDIU claim is granted. The left elbow disability issue remains pending due to a lack of VA examination.

The Board dismissed all appeals related to the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, as well as his request to reopen a previously denied claim. The cause of death was listed as frontal lobe degeneration and Parkinson-like progressive motor degeneration.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for her service-connected lumbosacral strain is being remanded due to the need for a more contemporaneous examination and consideration of additional evidence.

The Board has granted an effective date of February 10, 2012 for the grant of service connection for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities (sciatic). The decision is based on the Veteran's informal claim received by VA on February 10, 2012.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy, increased ratings for bilateral knee chondromalacia, and an increased rating for lumbosacral degenerative disc disease. The evidence did not support higher or separate ratings for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar degenerative disc and joint disease, as well as bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, do not meet the schedular requirements for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability. However, given that he was granted Social Security benefits based on his back conditions, the Board has remanded the case for further consideration of an extraschedular award of individual unemployability benefits.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for right and left leg radiculopathy, as well as his service-connected spondylolisthesis and psychiatric disorder are denied. The case is remanded to obtain additional examinations and opinions regarding the severity of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for low back disability, radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities as secondary to a low back disability, and patellofemoral pain syndrome of both knees. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is rated at 20 percent effective March 31, 2009.

The appeal to reopen service connection for PTSD was granted, along with other claims related to various disabilities. The effective date remains pending as it is not specified in the decision.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, and his lumbar spine disability rating is remanded for further examination. Service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to the service-connected lumbar spine condition is also remanded.

The Veteran's right wrist brace, used for a service-connected disability, caused wear and tear to his clothing. The Veteran is granted an annual clothing allowance for the 2015 calendar year for this wrist brace. No clothing allowance is granted for the back brace due to lack of service connection.

The Veteran's left upper extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as his symptoms have been mild throughout the appeal period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a back disability due to lack of in-service incurrence or evidence linking these conditions to service.