Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and associated radiculopathy have been rated at 20 percent prior to September 17, 2015, and 40 percent therefrom. The Board finds that these ratings adequately reflect the severity of his disability.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral degenerative disc disease with radiculopathy, cervical degenerative disc disease with radiculopathy, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Prior to July 18, 2014, the Veteran's PTSD was rated as 70 percent disabling.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as the need for additional examinations. The claims of DEA benefits are also remanded.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Veteran's low back residuals of soft tissue sarcoma are rated at 40 percent prior to December 10, 2015 and in excess of 40 percent thereafter. Bilateral hearing loss and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity do not warrant a compensable initial rating.

Your claims for service connection for lung cancer, carpal tunnel syndrome, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has remanded the claims for a rating in excess of 40 percent for a lumbar spine disability prior to May 6, 2014, and for ratings in excess of 10 percent for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's right ankle, low back, right knee, left knee, and right shoulder disabilities are granted as secondary to service-connected conditions.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the merits was denied. The claims were remanded for further action.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral radiculopathy and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity has been rated at 40 percent since September 12, 2013. The same rating was assigned for the left lower extremity from September 5, 2013.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding whether the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is aggravated by his service-connected abdominal adhesions and whether it is due to the core weakness residual from his service-connected stab wound.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.,PTSD was initially rated at 30 percent prior to September 15, 2017, and at 70 percent thereafter. The Board finds no basis for an increased rating.,The Veteran's claim for neuropathy sciatic nerve, right lower extremity (RLE) secondary to lumbosacral strain was granted with an effective date of July 24, 2012.,The Veteran's claim for neuropathy sciatic nerve, left lower extremity (LLE) secondary to lumbosacral strain did not meet the criteria for an earlier effective date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for neck condition, left eye condition, scars, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and chronic acquired psychiatric condition are not supported by sufficient evidence in the record. The Board has ordered VA to attempt to obtain relevant private treatment records from Mission Hospital and Camino Health Center.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) for loss of use of his right foot, finding that he does not meet the criteria for SMC based on service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent effective March 25, 2003. A separate rating of 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted effective April 15, 2014.

The Veteran's right hand carpal tunnel syndrome is rated at 50 percent, effective January 8, 2019.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathy of the lower extremities are not rated higher than 20 percent.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not file a claim prior to October 22, 2012, for PTSD, migraine condition, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, thoracolumbar spine condition, or cervical spine condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical and thoracolumbar spine disorders, as well as radiculopathy of both lower extremities. The claims are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is at most 50 percent, which does not meet the threshold requirements for TDIU. The evidence of record indicates that the Veteran had the capability to obtain and maintain substantial gainful employment during the appeal period.

The Veteran's left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are granted with a 20% evaluation each. The issue of an increased evaluation for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's low back condition, specifically a lack of an adequate nexus opinion from a VA examiner.