Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for erectile dysfunction is dismissed as he withdrew his claim during the July 2017 Board hearing.,The Veteran’s claims of service connection for a right shoulder disability, pulmonary sleep disorder (claimed as sleep apnea), and right lower extremity nerve disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence addressing secondary service connection theories.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for a pulmonary sleep disorder is remanded due to insufficient evidence addressing the relationship between his obesity and service-connected disabilities, and whether it was caused or aggravated by his psychiatric disability.,The Veteran’s claim of service connection for a right lower extremity nerve disability is remanded as there are conflicting diagnoses in the medical records regarding this condition.,The Veteran's claims of increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, left knee instability with osteoarthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis are remanded due to insufficient evidence addressing his functional limitations during the period from August 11, 2011 to September 2012.,The Veteran's claim of increased rating for left lower extremity sciatic nerve disability is remanded as there are conflicting diagnoses in the medical records regarding this condition.,The Veteran’s claims of increased ratings for depression are remanded due to insufficient evidence addressing his functional limitations during the period from August 11, 2011 to September 2012.

The Veteran's service connection claims for headaches, chest congestion and body aches, right ankle disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy (secondary to lumbar spine disability), right lower extremity radiculopathy (secondary to lumbar spine disability), and a 10% rating for right thumb/hand disability have been granted. The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and related neurological impairments in the extremities, and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with L5/S1 spondylolisthesis and right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy require additional examination to determine the current extent of disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer has been reopened, but the increased ratings for spondylosis of the lumbar spine and radiculopathy of the lower extremities remain under appeal.

Service connection has been granted for a cervical spine degenerative joint disease with radiculopathy, a mood disorder, and depressive disorder. Service connection remains denied for a left knee injury.,The Veteran's current diagnoses of cervical spine degenerative joint disease with radiculopathy, mood disorder, and depressive disorder are all considered to be related to his service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for headaches was denied as there was no evidence of sustained and material improvement.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for right upper extremity radiculopathy was denied as the evidence did not show severe incomplete paralysis, warranting a higher rating.,The reduction in the disability rating for left upper extremity radiculopathy from 40 percent to 20 percent was upheld.

The Veteran's migraines are granted service connection, and the lumbar spine strain with L5-S1 disc protrusion is granted a 40 percent evaluation. The S1 nerve root compression (sciatica/radiculopathy of right lower extremity) remains at 20 percent from September 30, 2014 onwards. PTSD with panic disorder and insomnia is granted a 30 percent initial evaluation prior to January 11, 2011. The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded for further development. Other issues remain pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity due to inadequate VA examinations in July 2010 and April 2016. The new examination must take into account the Veteran's statements, the evidence of record, and accepted medical principles.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance, warranting SMC based on the need for aid and attendance. However, he does not qualify for SMC based on housebound status due to his TDIU.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, was denied due to lack of new and material evidence. His right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were also evaluated at 10% ratings, with the former being remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional examination and opinion regarding his service-connected lumbar spine disability, as well as his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's peroneal nerve neuritis with lumbar radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is rated at 40 percent effective September 11, 2015. The Veteran also received a separate rating for his right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including obtaining updated treatment records and conducting examinations to assess the severity of his lumbar spine, knee, and hip conditions.

The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted with an effective date of June 24, 2013.,The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted with an effective date of June 24, 2013. From July 8, 2014, the rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy is increased to 40 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the radiculopathy of the right lower extremity and because a full medical opinion is needed on whether it is aggravated by service-connected residuals of coccyx injury. The back disability issue is inextricably intertwined with the radiculopathy issue.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no current psychiatric or sleep disorder, and the left shoulder and cervical spine disabilities do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various ankle, knee, wrist, elbow, hip, and foot conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's left upper extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the current evidence.

The Board has determined that an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for lumbar strain is not warranted. The appeal will be remanded to obtain SSA records and to consider a TDIU claim.

The Veteran's postoperative right femur fracture with anterior cruciate injury is currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 5257.,Right knee limitation of motion has been rated at 10 percent since July 2008. The current range of motion does not warrant a higher rating.