Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for sciatica, finding no current disability and insufficient evidence to establish a link between the condition and service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a cervical spine disorder and remanded other issues related to his claims. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any current cervical spine disorders, right and left upper extremity radiculopathies, and psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's GERD is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds no evidence of symptoms warranting a higher rating.,For his lumbar spine disability, the Veteran was previously rated at 10 percent prior to October 21, 2016. From that date forward, he has been rated at 40 percent. The Board concludes that neither period warrants a higher rating.

The Veteran's medical expenses for July 14, 2016 were approved because her severe back pain and sciatic pain required immediate emergency care at a non-VA facility due to the lack of feasible VA options.

The Veteran's right-sided sciatica and radiculitis have been granted a disability rating of 40 percent, but no higher. The Veteran’s low back disability has been remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected radiculopathy, right lower extremity, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection, as is his lumbar spine disability at a 10% rating. The right leg radiculopathy remains at a 10% rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his lumbar spine condition and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private medical records.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his lumbosacral spine osteoarthritis with degenerative disc disease was denied prior to August 12, 2016. From August 12, 2016 to October 27, 2016, he received a 20% rating for the condition. After that date, his claim for an increased rating was denied.

The Board denied reopening and service connection for back condition and radiculopathy of the lower extremities as new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact or raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since October 19, 2013.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and evaluation due to worsening of the Veteran's lumbar spine and right sciatic nerve conditions, as well as his unemployability.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for recognition as a helpless child of his father due to lack of evidence showing permanent incapacity for self-support prior to age 18, despite his current disabilities and condition.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete information and need for further examination regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, which could affect his ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's recurrent right hip pain is attributed to his service-connected low back disorder and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity. The Board denied service connection for a chronic right hip disability as it was already associated with other service-connected conditions. For TDIU, the Veteran met the criteria due to his multiple service-connected disabilities, but the Board found he is only capable of marginal employment.

The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome, right wrist is rated at 30 percent. The Veteran's right wrist tenosynovitis and IBS are each rated at 10 percent.

All appeals for service connection and increased ratings are withdrawn. The Veteran's adjustment disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected headaches.,The Veteran’s degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its etiology, including potential aggravation by a work-related injury in 1999.

The Veteran's bowel incontinence is granted a 30 percent rating effective November 16, 2018. The lumbar spine and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities are denied increased ratings prior to June 15, 2017.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective from August 16, 2008. A separate 30 percent disability rating for asymmetry of the eyes is granted effective September 30, 2004. The appeal for service connection for left eye glaucoma is remanded.