Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The case is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected back disability and associated symptoms, including peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities. Separate ratings are also required for the right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's back disorder caused significant degenerative changes, radiculopathy, and antalgic gait. The rating of 40 percent for mechanical low back pain is granted since October 5, 2011.

The Veteran's low back disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted increased ratings, effective November 14, 2010.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to the Veteran not receiving a VA examination as scheduled. The issues of service connection, higher initial ratings, and TDIU are inextricably intertwined.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a right leg disorder due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI, hearing loss, lumbar disc disease, scar, low back, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and PTSD. The issues of whether new and material evidence was received to reopen the claim for TBI and the propriety of reducing the disability rating for PTSD from 50% to 30% are also remanded.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine discogenic disease L4-L5 with lumbar degenerative arthritis, left leg sciatic nerve disability, and right leg sciatic nerve disability are all granted as service connected.,An increased rating for the Veteran’s lumbar strain is denied.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity and back disability are being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess their severity and functional effects. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine radiculopathy and bilateral upper extremity neuropathy, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to military service or radiation exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for spondylolisthesis with arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and sciatic radiculopathy, finding that there was no evidence of a causal nexus between his in-service injuries and his current back disorders.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn, and the claims are dismissed.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lower spine with lumbosacral strain and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy have been rated at 10 percent, but no higher. The rating for the lower spine is denied as it does not meet criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for various service-connected conditions were denied. A 20% rating was granted for bladder dysfunction.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are deemed insufficient to determine if he is unemployable. A new examination and updated VA treatment records are needed to assess the cumulative effect of his conditions on employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to July 8, 2015.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability and left leg sciatica were denied increased ratings. The Veteran was granted a TDIU effective January 5, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case to issue an SOC on whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for a cervical spine disability, including various conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for PTSD is denied as his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD and peripheral neuropathies, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and associated right-lower extremity and left-lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted initial evaluations of 20 percent each, effective from May 4, 2010.