Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for a headache disorder and denied the remaining issues on appeal. The Veteran is now entitled to increased ratings for his PTSD with alcohol abuse, tinnitus, traumatic brain injury, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome.

The Veteran's right arm pain, including tendonitis and carpel tunnel syndrome, is service-connected.,Service connection for fatigue due to viral infections (EBV) is granted.,Radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities secondary to a service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability is also granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease with lumbar scoliosis and left lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as his claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, were denied. The evidence did not show the required functional impairment or other criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of his low back strain disability was denied, and he is also denied a TDIU. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for the Veteran's cervical spondylosis with radiculopathy, either as directly related to his military service or secondary to his service-connected cold injury residuals. The preponderance of the evidence does not support these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral lumbar radiculopathy is proximately due to his service-connected low back strain and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher evaluations or service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is being remanded due to discrepancies in symptoms and need for further medical evaluation.

The Board has remanded the appeal for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues of increased ratings for thoracic spine disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy are being addressed, as well as the issue of TDIU.

The Veteran's increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy were denied.,Service connection was not granted for a cervical spine disorder as secondary to the service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar strain is currently rated at 20 percent, and he seeks higher ratings for his sciatica. The VA examinations have shown that the Veteran has limited range of motion in his lower back but no additional loss of function or range of motion during repetitive use or flare-ups.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, and his radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is rated at 10 percent. Both conditions are currently assigned the highest possible rating under their respective diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's right lower radiculopathy was reduced from 10 percent to noncompensable effective February 11, 2009. The Board restored the original rating of 10 percent.,The Veteran is not entitled to a TDIU rating as his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected conditions do not preclude him from following a substantially gainful occupation, and therefore denied his claim for TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy effective from September 23, 2010. The Veteran's claim was received on March 31, 2010.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the Veteran for an examination regarding his service connection claim for a back disability. The case will be remanded to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's TBI, right upper extremity neuropathy, left carpal tunnel syndrome, and bilateral radiculopathy of the lower extremities are all found to be related to his service.,His right knee disorder is also found to be related to his service.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, specifically degenerative joint and disc disease, post-operative laminectomy discectomy L5-S1, left S1 radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability was denied as the evidence did not show that he had forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine less than 30 degrees or ankylosis.,The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his right and left lower extremity radiculopathy was denied as there is no objective medical evidence showing symptoms approximating moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, right leg radiculopathy and left leg radiculopathy are each rated at 10 percent. The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU.