Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including left knee disability, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability with radiculopathy, and urinary incontinence associated with lumbar spine disability, finding no evidence of a nexus to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for memory loss, sleep disability, arm disability, and cervical radiculopathy of the right upper extremity. The Veteran's memory loss is not considered a separate disability from his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for sinusitis, back disability (including scoliosis with sciatica), upper respiratory infection, bilateral knee degenerative disc disease, hiatal hernia, and folliculitis. The remand requests additional examinations and reviews of records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and PTSD have been denied. The current ratings are 10 percent for the period prior to September 29, 2017, and 20 percent thereafter.

The Board denied service connection for back and neck disabilities, as well as bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy and lower extremity neuropathy. The evidence did not show any in-service injuries or diseases related to these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected cervical spine and lumbar myositis with a bulging disc are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations in compliance with Correia v. McDonald (2016).

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations to assess the current severity of his thoracolumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and their impact on his ability to work. The TDIU claim is also deferred until further development.

The Veteran's chronic lumbar strain and related right sciatic nerve impairment are granted a 20% disability rating, effective from May 9, 2014. The left sciatic nerve is granted a 10% disability rating as of March 13, 2018. TDIU remains remanded.

The Board found that the reduction of the disability rating from 40 percent to 10 percent for sciatica of the right lower extremity, effective April 1, 2014, was proper based on improvement in the Veteran's condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression is denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of depression.,The Veteran's right hip disability was previously rated at 30 percent prior to February 3, 2016. From April 1, 2017, the rating has been increased to 50 percent due to moderately severe residuals of weakness, pain, or limitation of motion.,The Veteran's left hip disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling and does not warrant a higher rating based on the evidence provided.,The Veteran's back disability is currently rated at 10 percent and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.,The Veteran's sciatica in the right lower extremity warrants a 20 percent rating as it manifests with moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Board denied service connection for left and right leg sciatica as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, coronary artery disease, degenerative joint and disc disease, and sciatica, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined rating of at least 70% due to these conditions.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for major depressive disorder, increased ratings for low back disability and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and TDIU are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran needs a new examination to determine if his depression is related to service or his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and increased rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity have been dismissed. The appeal for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for mood disorder is denied, but a TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his service connection claim for a right knee condition has been denied. The Board has also remanded the issues of higher evaluations for lumbar spine DDD, bilateral lower extremity sciatica, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's hemorrhoids and low back conditions are found to be related to service.,The Veteran's left leg radiculopathy is found to be related to his service-connected low back condition.,The Veteran's chronic sinus condition is found to have had its onset during service.,There is no evidence linking the Veteran's current left arm/elbow condition to service.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the issues of service connection for lumbosacral spine DDD, cervical spine DDD, and cervical radiculopathy. The Veteran's claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to provide a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions. The current evaluations for his service-connected disabilities remain unchanged.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a compensable rating for hemorrhoids. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his knees and back, as well as the issue of left leg radiculopathy related to his spine disability, are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining relevant VA treatment records and a DBQ from the Veteran's treating physician. The issues of service connection for low back disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU are all inextricably intertwined with the low back claim.