Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected left knee strain, lumbar spine strain with arthritis, and lower left radiculopathy. The issues are inextricably intertwined due to their interrelated nature.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent and the claim for a higher rating is denied. The lumbar strain, radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and femoral nerve involvement to the right lower extremity are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a knee and leg disability, including as secondary to his chronic recurrent low back pain syndrome, was dismissed. The claim for an increased rating for right S1 radiculopathy was denied prior to August 1, 2013, but granted from that date onward with the highest possible rating.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for left L3 and L4 radiculopathy, including muscle atrophy of the left lower extremity, is denied as there is no evidence of severe incomplete paralysis with marked muscular atrophy.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to issues with the evidence and because a decision on one claim could significantly impact another.

The Board has remanded the claims for thoracic outlet syndrome, brachial plexus neuropathy, and radiculopathy of both upper and lower extremities due to additional evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PAD, due to exposure at Camp Lejeune, is granted.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted as the evidence shows it began during service and persists.,Service connection for a left wrist condition is denied.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,Service connection for tension headaches is denied.,Service connection for left side sciatic nerve damage is denied.,Service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy is denied.

The Veteran's claims for thoracolumbar degenerative joint disease with intervertebral disc syndrome, left hip bursitis, right hip bursitis, radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve left lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the femoral nerve left lower extremity are all remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for tinnitus is denied.

New and material evidence has been submitted to reopen claims for service connection for right, upper extremity radiculopathy, left, upper extremity radiculopathy, sinusitis, hypertension, and sleep apnea (secondary to service-connected disabilities).,Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been rated at 20% prior to November 2, 2016. Since then, the rating for the lumbar spine disability has been denied, while the rating for the right lower extremity radiculopathy remains denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent prior to April 9, 2015 and remains at that level. From April 9, 2015 to July 20, 2015, the rating was increased to 40 percent. Since then, a higher rating has not been granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy and an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for chronic lumbosacral strain. The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran had these conditions, and his current symptoms were not severe enough to warrant higher ratings.

The claims for TDIU and an increased rating for major depressive disorder are being remanded due to insufficient medical evidence. Additional VA treatment records, including those from non-VA providers, need to be obtained.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection, including for loss of energy and fatigue, memory loss, a cervical spine condition, back disability, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity. The claims are being returned for additional development.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as his cervical spine disorder, are granted service connection due to their relationship with his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine. His right and left upper extremity disorders are denied on secondary basis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been granted. The effective dates are not specified as the appeals were remanded.,A claim for hypertension was also remanded, but no effective date is provided.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's TDIU claim due to inadequate duty to assist determinations and a need for additional medical examination.

The Board dismissed the appeals for increased ratings and reduction of disability ratings, as well as a special monthly compensation claim due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The claim for service connection of the avulsion fracture of the left acetabulum is granted. The Veteran also received compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for his left sciatic nerve injury resulting from a VA total hip replacement surgery in April 2012.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right upper extremity radiculopathy as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease due to a lack of medical evidence showing such conditions are related to his back disability.