Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease, is presumed to have been incurred during service due to chronic symptoms of the condition.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for radiculopathy of her bilateral upper extremities and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. A new VA examination is required to evaluate the current severity of her radiculopathy, as well as an assessment of her employability.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability (neck disability), lumbar spine disability (back disability), and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy. The decision also noted that the Veteran's claims for temporary total convalescence ratings for his neck and back disabilities were not granted.,Service connection was denied as there is no evidence linking the current disabilities to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeals for left ear injury, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and residual hemorrhoid surgical scars have been dismissed. The Board has granted service connection for skin cancer disability, PTSD, low back disability, and left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy. Service connection for scalp scar is denied.

The Board denied increased ratings for lumbar degenerative disc disease, radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, weakness of the quadriceps muscles, and abdominal weakness.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical records and opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) at T-7 and T-8 of the lumbar spine as secondary to service-connected residuals of fracture at T-5 and T-7. The issues of radiculopathy of the right lower extremity and numbness of the left lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded for further action.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU on an extra-schedular basis.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability and peripheral neuropathy have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to July 1, 2015. The Board has granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left and right knee replacements, lumbar degenerative disc disease, plantar fasciitis, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. His TDIU claim is granted effective October 1, 2009.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a psychiatric disorder and multiple musculoskeletal conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU claim based on these conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is being remanded for a supplemental VA opinion to address his in-service back injuries and current condition.

The Veteran's appeal seeking to reopen a previously denied service connection claim for hypothyroidism was dismissed. Service connection for right ear hearing loss and lumbar degenerative disc disease were granted, but the issue of right leg radiculopathy is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, to include lumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD), degenerative joint disease (DJD), facet joint syndrome (FJS), facet arthropathy, polyradiculopathy, and spondylosis is granted. The case is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board found that there is no evidence linking the Veteran's current neurological condition of the bilateral upper extremities to his military service, and thus denied his claim.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for neck disability, left breast disability, cervical radiculopathy, and coronary artery disease (CAD). The cases are remanded to obtain VA examinations to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability and radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities are not service connected, as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for intervertebral disc disease with protrusion of L4-L5 is denied. A separate 10 percent disability rating is granted for left lower radiculopathy effective January 21, 2015. The claim for reopening service connection for ulcerative colitis is remanded.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a chronic low back strain has been reopened and granted. The Board found that the current diagnosis of chronic low back strain is related to an in-service injury, and thus grants service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity do not render him unemployable for substantially gainful employment.