Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating greater than 10 percent for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, as well as his claim for service connection for radiculopathy of the femoral nerves. The VA is required to obtain treatment records, provide a new examination, and readjudicate the claims.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine disability and right shoulder/arm pain, but denied both on a compensation basis due to dishonorable service during the period of ACDUTRA. The claims are reopened.

The Veteran's GERD, right shoulder disability, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are all granted as service-connected. The rating for the GERD is set at 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for low back disorder and sciatica of the left and right legs, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

Service connection is denied for recurring myositis of the abdominus rectus muscles, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.,Ratings in excess of 20 percent are denied for left shoulder impingement and supraspinatus myotendinopathy, a rating in excess of 10 percent is denied for right knee tibial plateau contusion, and a rating in excess of 10 percent is denied for degenerative disc disease of the back.

The September 5, 1991 rating decision was revised to grant service connection for the back disorder of lumbar spondylolisthesis effective May 21, 1991 due to clear and unmistakable error (CUE). The claim was originally denied based on a presumption of soundness, but the evidence showed that the condition likely worsened during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbosacral strain with radiculopathy is related to an in-service car accident, and thus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and associated left lower extremity radiculopathy are granted with a 40% rating from November 15, 2011.

The Board dismissed the appeals for initial compensable evaluations for bilateral knee scars. For the lumbar spine disability, a rating of 60 percent is granted from March 21, 2014, and all other claims are denied.

The Veteran's appeals for higher evaluations of his cervical spine, left and right upper extremity radiculopathy conditions were dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal. The Board also granted a TDIU effective prior to November 10, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination findings regarding the Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy, specifically in terms of joint range of motion and pain.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been evaluated at their current levels of 20% and 10%, respectively, and the Board has determined that these ratings are appropriate.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a neck disorder, low back disorder, left knee condition, right knee condition, kidney disorder, and sciatic nerve disorder of the left leg, have all been denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for radiculopathy of the left leg is remanded due to insufficient consideration of lay evidence and need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable prior to November 30, 2015. The Board has granted a TDIU for this period.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and rating increases have been dismissed due to her withdrawal of all pending claims.

The Board granted service connection for left and right leg radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected low back strain, effective from October 14, 2003.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar DDD and DJD, as well as right lower extremity radiculopathy, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his symptoms.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with history of right sciatica was reduced from a 20 percent rating to a 10 percent rating effective February 1, 2014. The Board found the reduction improper and restored the 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's chronic mechanical low back syndrome with degenerative joint disease, degenerative disc disease and right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted as service-connected. A 20% disability rating for the right ankle fracture with shortening of the right lower extremity remains in effect.