Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated as noncompensable, with no worse than Level II hearing impairment in the right ear and Level I hearing impairment in the left ear.,For the entire period on appeal, the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral radiculopathy of the lower extremities, an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as secondary to service-connected lumbosacral strain), and sleep apnea are all granted due to their being related to her service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew all his appeals with the exception of a full grant of a 100 percent rating for cardiomyopathy. The other issues have not progressed further due to withdrawal.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability, low back disability, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity as there was no evidence to support that these conditions began during active service or were related to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's low back strain is currently rated at 10 percent, effective September 28, 1998. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as the evidence does not show forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left leg has been rated at 20 percent, effective September 28, 1998. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as there are no incapacitating episodes.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance for his back brace is denied because the VA certifying official found that the back brace does not cause wear and tear to his clothing.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining relevant VA and private treatment records.

The Veteran's initial rating for bilateral tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular rating has already been assigned. The claims for increased ratings of lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded due to new evidence.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's neck disability, finding that there is no medical evidence linking his current cervical spine conditions to an in-service motor vehicle accident injury. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a link between the Veteran's current disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for radiculopathy, left lower extremity is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for radiculopathy, right lower extremity is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for migraine headache disorder is denied.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including those related to the Veteran's right shoulder disorder, lumbar spine disorder and right hip disorder, right ear hearing loss, sciatica, cervical spine disability, residuals of a right foot injury, depressive disorder, and left arm disability. The issues are secondary to other service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings are remanded due to inadequate or incomplete examinations and further medical examination is needed.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder is granted. The rating for his spondylolisthesis of the lumbosacral spine remains at 20 percent, but he is granted a separate rating for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities.

The Board has remanded three issues related to the Veteran's sleep apnea and radiculopathy of the lower extremities. The first issue is whether the Veteran's current sleep apnea is related to his active service, including complaints of frequent trouble sleeping in service. The second and third issues are about whether the Veteran's radiculopathy of the lower left and right extremities is secondary to his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with lumbago.

The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 20 percent, and her unspecified depressive disorder remains at a 30 percent rating. The appeal for TDIU is remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for sinusitis and remanded the issues of service connection for hyposmia, hypogeusia, bronchitis, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), back disorder, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection was granted for bilateral knee pain, but denied for other conditions including headache, depression, sciatic radiculopathy, left and right elbow strain, left and right wrist strain, right ankle strain, and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's ability to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to April 22, 2013. The Veteran needs to provide IRS tax returns from 2006 through 2013 and any relevant documents related to her law suit with TVA.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity was granted a rating of 20 percent effective December 28, 2017. Prior to this date, her disability had been rated at 10 percent.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, including increased ratings and TDIU determination.