Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation as the last VA examinations were conducted in October 2014, which is considered too old to accurately assess his current condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of compliance with its February 2016 remand instructions regarding an addendum opinion from the Director of Compensation Service.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal on the issues of service connection for a cervical spine disability with radiculopathy, sinusitis, hyperhidrosis, and muscle spasms. As a result, these issues are dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches is denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service incurrence.

The Board denied service connection for right ankle disorder, right foot disorder (to include right foot tendonitis of the fibularis brevis), erectile dysfunction, right and left lower extremities neuropathy, and right and left lower extremities radiculopathy.,No current diagnoses were found by VA examiners for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for a higher disability rating and an earlier effective date for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for cervical spine disability and right arm radiculopathy. The examiner is asked to provide an explanation on whether these conditions are related to service, including considering the Veteran's work during his military service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease and increased ratings for left knee conditions due to new evidence. The total rating case is also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to November 2, 2016. Therefore, the Board has granted entitlement to Total Disability Retirement based on Unemployability (TDIU) prior to that date.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at a 40 percent since March 1, 2015.

The Veteran's left leg radiculopathy is rated at 40 percent effective July 20, 2008. The Board has also remanded the issues of a higher rating for his lumbar spine condition and TDIU.

The Veteran's right wrist carpal instability status-post reconstruction is granted as secondary to his service-connected left lower extremity radiculopathy.,The Veteran’s scars over the right eye are not rated higher than 10 percent due to lack of characteristics of disfigurement and no painful or unstable scars.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability, radiculopathy of the left and right upper extremities, and restored a 20 percent rating for sciatic nerve involvement of the lower extremities. The Veteran's claims were not based on presumptive exposure or new evidence.

The Veteran's initial claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted in October 2012, and he is now seeking an increased rating.,For his right knee patellofemoral syndrome (post-arthroscopic repair of meniscus tear), cervical spine degenerative spondylosis with disc protrusion, residual scar, right knee, radiculopathy in the left upper extremity, and radiculopathy in the right upper extremity, he is seeking increased ratings.

The Veteran's low back disability is now rated at 40 percent effective March 3, 2010. Other claims for increased ratings and service connection are also granted.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to incomplete records and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and right lower extremity radiculopathy are rated at 40 percent and 20 percent, respectively. The combined rating is 70 percent, qualifying him for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for radiculopathy, low back disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to ongoing issues with his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar radiculopathy and remanded the issue of increased rating for lumbosacral strain.