Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for a combined effects medical opinion regarding his service-connected disabilities prior to July 23, 2014.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis is productive of painful motion limited to, at worst, 95 degrees of flexion and subjective mild instability symptoms. The Board finds a separate rating of 10 percent for instability is warranted.,The Veteran’s degenerative changes of the lower back with new onset facet fracture are productive of forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine of 30 degrees or less, warranting an initial rating of 40 percent. The Board finds no higher rating is warranted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 40 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, and service connection for a right knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not been shown to be of such severity so as to preclude substantially gainful employment, and his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's low back disability and right leg neurological disability are both rated at 40 percent, granting the requested increased ratings. The TDIU claim based on service-connected disabilities other than bipolar disorder is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbosacral spine and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbosacral spine and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection and higher disability ratings related to various conditions, including left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, left knee chondromalacia and osteoarthritis, and lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease and IVDS. The issues of service connection for bladder dysfunction and bowel dysfunction secondary to these disabilities were remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him so helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person, warranting special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance. The increased rating claims for traumatic arthritis of the lumbar spine and bursitis of the right shoulder are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of both lower extremities as defined by VA regulations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of both lower extremities as defined by VA regulations.

The Board has received additional relevant evidence and is remanding the cases for readjudication.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder disorder, back disorder, neck disorder, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The conditions are related to a motor vehicle accident the Veteran sustained during his active duty.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at a 60 percent disability rating, effective from the date of this decision. The issue of entitlement to TDIU has been remanded for further development.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities prior to December 25, 2014. A disability rating of 40 percent is granted from that date. The case is remanded for further development regarding lumbar spinal stenosis and TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to October 22, 2016.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy of the lower extremities was denied. The rating for the lumbar spine disability remains at 40 percent, while the ratings for the right and left lower extremity radiculopathies were all denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right acromioclavicular joint degenerative changes, lumbar spine degenerative changes, and cervical spine degenerative changes with right upper extremity radiculopathy as there was no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of tremors and has denied service connection for this condition. The issues of service connection for cervical spine stenosis, cervical radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than depressive disorder (including PTSD and Adjustment Disorder), degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with bilateral radiculopathy, a disability rating in excess of 20 percent prior to April 28, 2010, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar radiculopathy of the left leg, a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar radiculopathy of the right leg, and an initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent for depressive disorder are all remanded due to incomplete or unclear evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis of all joints, cervical spine disability, and radiculopathy of both lower extremities due to incomplete development. The effective dates for service connection are not being granted as they arose on January 26, 2010.