Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's right arm and/or elbow disorder is denied as there is no current diagnosis.,Service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine was properly severed from June 30, 2014 due to a post-service injury.,Right upper extremity radiculopathy associated with degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine was properly severed from June 30, 2014 as it is secondary to a pre-existing condition.,Left upper extremity radiculopathy associated with degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine was properly severed from June 30, 2014 due to a post-service injury.,Right lower extremity radiculopathy associated with intervertebral disc syndrome of the thoracolumbar spine was properly severed from June 30, 2014 as it is secondary to a pre-existing condition.,Left lower extremity radiculopathy associated with intervertebral disc syndrome of the thoracolumbar spine was properly severed from June 30, 2014 due to a post-service injury.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disorder, denied increased ratings for right knee degenerative joint disease and bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, denied effective dates prior to May 22, 2015 for service connection of right ankle arthritis and left leg pain (rheumatoid radiculopathy), and remanded issues related to depression, service connection for left ankle arthritis, and effective dates prior to August 29, 2014 for increased rating of right lower extremity radiculopathy.,The Board also denied an effective date prior to January 26, 2018 for a 50 percent disability rating for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis and degenerative changes of the left great toe, denied service connection for left ankle arthritis, and remanded issues related to depression.

The Board denied service connection for radiculopathy in both lower extremities and kidney disorder. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, nerve damage, hypertension, headaches, obstructive sleep apnea, a bilateral eye disability; and a right shoulder disability have been withdrawn.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity are being remanded.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for MDD, low back disability, and LLE radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for additional development. The Veteran is also having his TDIU claim deferred until final disposition of the rating claims.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connection due to in-service noise exposure.,Service connection for a lumbar spine disability, including disc disease, is denied because the condition did not manifest during service and there is no evidence of an in-service injury or event. The current condition is related to post-service injuries.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding treatment records and procedural errors. The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his low back disability will be reconsidered after obtaining all relevant medical records.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as service-connected.,There is no evidence of current left lower extremity radiculopathy or right lower extremity radiculopathy, and the claim for these conditions is denied.,The Veteran's right shoulder condition due to undiagnosed illness is not granted as there are no objective indications of a qualifying chronic disability in his right shoulder.,The Veteran's current rating for insomnia remains at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and adjudication due to incomplete records and need for updated opinions from VA examiners.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for various conditions and the effective date of TDIU. The Veteran's right knee total arthroplasty remains rated at 60 percent.

The Veteran's lumbar disability is granted service connection, and his sleep apnea claim is remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for occipital neuralgia and denied increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, cervical strain, migraines, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and right upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, upper left arm nerve disorder, and right leg nerve disorder (radiculopathy) due to lack of a VA examination. The Veteran is presumed to have suffered from these conditions during his military service.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for various service connection claims, including those related to coronary artery disease with valvular heart disease and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity. The Veteran's claim for right upper and left upper extremity radiculopathy was also denied as there is no evidence of such in the one-year period prior to November 3, 2011.

The Veteran was granted TDIU from August 1, 2009 and prior to October 31, 2016 due to his service-connected back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy. The Board found that the Veteran's disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation during this period.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, effective February 6, 2014. The rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity (sciatic nerve) remains at 20 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have not been productive of total occupational and social impairment, but his other service-connected conditions have resulted in a 100 percent evaluation due to their combined effect on his ability to work.

The Veteran's intervertebral disc disease is granted a 40% evaluation, and his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities are currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board has determined that these conditions do not warrant a higher rating due to mild symptoms.,The Veteran’s service connection claims for sleep disturbances, fibromyalgia, shoulder disabilities, hearing loss, cervical spine strain, knee retropatellar pain syndrome, PTSD, major depression and alcohol abuse, and lumbosacral strain are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy, but the issues of higher evaluations and TDIU are remanded due to need for additional evidence.