Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service treatment records are incomplete and requests for these records have not been completed. The Veteran is also requested to provide any additional medical records from private providers, including Dr. Baldwin.

The Board found that the procedural requirements for reducing the Veteran's disability ratings were followed, and the reductions from 60%, 40%, and 40% to 20%, 10%, and 10% respectively are granted.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the appeal for a higher rating has been denied.,Her left lower extremity radiculopathy is also rated at 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's TDIU claim should be remanded for a determination on whether he meets the criteria for extraschedular TDIU prior to July 11, 2014. The case will also be referred to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for further review.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to August 3, 2011 and August 17, 2016 for service connection of radiculopathy and sciatica associated with his lumbosacral strain have been denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 10 percent prior to April 1, 2018. A separate 10 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy and a separate 10 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy are granted effective July 17, 2017.,The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral foot disability, bilateral wrist disability, and bilateral hand/knuckle disability remain pending. The TDIU claim is also pending.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder, wrist, and lower extremity radiculopathy conditions. Service connection was also denied for chronic diarrhea. The Veteran's claims were not granted as his current disabilities are not related to service.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for hiatal hernia was granted, and service connection for hypertension, PTSD, obstructive sleep apnea, migraine headaches, lumbar spine disability, major depressive disorder, right little finger ankylosis, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity was denied. The Veteran's claim for increased evaluations for various conditions was also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities necessitate the use of a low back brace, but his shirts are not damaged by the brace. The Board finds that he does not meet the criteria for an annual VA clothing allowance.

The Veteran's lumbago and chronic low back pain (posttraumatic) are rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that this rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.,The Veteran’s bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to April 30, 2013 and a higher initial rating for his service-connected right knee osteoarthritis. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea, clinical peripheral radiculopathy of the upper extremities, osteoarthritis of the bilateral knees, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The decision also remanded several issues related to his right wrist disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar radiculopathy, increased ratings for left and right wrist disorders, and an initial rating higher than 10 percent for his lumbar strain have all been denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for multiple myeloma, increased ratings for lumbar spine disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's claim for service connection is based on exposure to ionizing radiation during military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to insufficient examination findings, necessitating further evaluation.

The Board denied reopening of the claim for service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy (claimed as radiculopathy) because the new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim and does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for further development, including a new VA examination and medical opinion. The issues include evaluations in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, right knee degenerative changes, and left knee degenerative changes.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that this rating is correct as only moderate incomplete paralysis has been shown.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and effective dates have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals.,The Board also remanded one issue: an evaluation for migraine headaches.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's former position as a computer programmer with an Associate degree education level is no longer suitable due to excessive absences from work and school caused by service-connected migraine headaches. The decision grants reentrance into the VR&E program.