Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the right wrist is currently rated at 10 percent, and a higher rating is not warranted.,Effective July 18, 2007, the Veteran has been granted service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity. Effective September 17, 2013, he was granted service connection for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.

The Veteran's lumbar spondylosis with DDD is rated at 40% effective April 11, 2018. The left sciatic radiculopathy remains at a 10% rating.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for chronic low back strain and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to incomplete information regarding ankylosis of the spine, as well as the need for updated treatment records and a more detailed examination.

The Veteran's PTSD and other service-connected conditions have prevented him from securing and maintaining employment since April 2010. The Board has ordered additional development to obtain updated information about his work history, SSA records, and a VA examination for his PTSD.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for a cervical spine disability, increased ratings for lower extremity radiculopathy and lumbar spine disability, and an earlier effective date for the right lower extremity radiculopathy rating. The Veteran is also required to provide updated evidence of his need for aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Veteran's L5 radiculopathy of the left lower extremity has been rated at 60 percent since February 2014. The Board found that his symptoms do not meet or approximate complete paralysis, and thus denied an increased rating beyond this level.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and right lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as his entitlement to a TDIU. The examinations will also determine if there is any new evidence warranting reopening of previously denied claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bulging L4-L5 disc with sciatica is related to his in-service injury, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left knee disorder and sciatic nerve injury, finding that there is no current disability to support these claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a keratitis condition is denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include anxiety, is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on his combined service-connected disabilities. The decision also notes that the Veteran likely cannot secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the eligibility criteria for financial assistance for an automobile or adaptive equipment, as his mobility issues are primarily due to nonservice-connected factors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected lumbar strain with IVDS and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for his back condition, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or event and that the current disability is not related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease L5-S1 from March 27, 2013 was denied.,The Veteran's claims for separate ratings for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities were also denied.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his service-connected conditions, including hearing loss, shoulder injuries, back pain, radiculopathy, and PTSD. The Board has remanded these claims for further development.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 20 percent, effective May 19, 2009. A separate rating of 10 percent for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for an opinion on which symptoms are attributable to the service-connected left foot sprain and whether they can be clearly separated from those of pes valgoplanus and lumbar radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for residuals of kidney stones with horseshoe kidneys was denied in 1986 due to congenital origin and treatment during service. New evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.,Service connection for a sleep condition is denied as there is no current diagnosis.