Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and associated right lower extremity radiculopathy were found to meet the criteria for a 20 percent rating prior to October 7, 2016.

The Board has granted service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to the Veteran's service-connected scoliosis. The effective date of service connection for scoliosis is set at April 17, 1989. The Veteran's initial rating for scoliosis was increased from 40% to 60% as of March 19, 2014.

The Veteran is found unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, which include prostate cancer, Parkinson's disease, and various neurological and musculoskeletal conditions.

The Veteran's right lower extremity sciatic nerve impairment, associated with his service-connected back disability, is now rated at 20 percent effective March 14, 2016.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee and left upper arm radiculopathy have been denied as the evidence does not show that they meet or more nearly approximate the criteria for a compensable rating at any time during the appeal period.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct further evaluations. The claims for increased ratings and service connection will be reconsidered after the development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination. The issues include determining whether the Veteran has a diagnosed right lower extremity condition or pain resulting in functional impairment, and if such conditions are related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar strain and associated radiculopathy did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation, with no incapacitating episodes reported.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation since September 16, 2008.

The Board found that there is no persuasive evidence showing that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from light physical work and sedentary work, thus denying his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and related conditions do not warrant a higher rating, and his service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied an extraschedular evaluation for a lumbar spine disability prior to March 31, 2012, or for the combined effects of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the right ear hearing loss issue. The remaining claims were denied as there is no legal basis for a higher rating.

The Veteran's initial rating for lumbar degenerative disc disease and IVDS was granted at a 20 percent level, effective prior to May 13, 2015. A separate 20 percent rating was also granted for left lower extremity sciatica.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is service-connected and granted.,Since April 12, 2016, the Veteran has been assigned a 40% rating for his lumbar strain due to moderate radiculopathy in the left lower extremity.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disorders, including spondylosis with myelopathy and DJD of the cervical spine, are found to be related to his military service. The Board grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for erectile dysfunction, depression, and a skin disorder. The appeals for left ankle, bilateral knee, and right leg radiculopathy disorders are denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable as of June 28, 2007. The effective date for the TDIU is set at this point.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar degenerative disc disease and right leg radiculopathy were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating criteria.