Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and other conditions such as diabetes, sleep apnea, and back pain, prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board grants TDIU prior to December 8, 2016.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for radiculopathy of right lower extremity and an initial rating higher than 20 percent for radiculopathy of left lower extremity prior to March 1, 2018.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder, TMJ, and right lower extremity radiculopathy do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to service connection for a lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The rating assigned is 30%.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of his service-connected disabilities prior to October 14, 2015.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a new VA examination to assess the severity of his lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is currently rated at 10 percent prior to October 27, 2017 and 20 percent from that date. The Board denied increased ratings for these conditions. Additionally, the TDIU claim was denied as there were no findings indicating the Veteran's condition precluded him from performing work-related tasks in a functionally sufficient manner.

The Board found insufficient evidence to establish a service-connected neurological disorder of the bilateral lower extremities, attributing it to radiculopathy rather than peripheral neuropathy.,The Veteran's bilateral knee arthritis was determined to be related to his period of service due to exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his sciatic neuropathy with lumbar spondylosis and spondylolisthesis, finding that the evidence did not support a rating higher than 40 percent. The claim for increased rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy was remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a new VA examination, and adjudicating the issues of increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and TDIU. The appeal is not about service connection.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's RLE and LLE radiculopathy were rated at 20 percent since February 9, 2017.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity sciatica have been granted a rating of 20 percent, effective from the date of claim. The claims for service connection for right and left lower extremity sciatica are also granted.

The Veteran's panic disorder is rated at 70 percent from April 19, 2011 to March 5, 2012. The rating for lumbosacral strain remains at 40 percent. The ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy remain at 10 percent each. The Veteran is granted TDIU.

The Veteran's left hip strain and right sciatic nerve weakness have been granted initial disability ratings of 20 percent each. The Veteran also has service-connected lumbar spondylosis with IVDS, which is rated at the maximum allowable under VA guidelines.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for high cholesterol associated with contaminated water at Camp Lejeune before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for lumbosacral degenerative joint and disc disease was denied as his disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The TDIU claim was also denied due to lack of evidence showing he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional medical opinions and evidence regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection, including his exposure to Agent Orange. The issues of radiculopathy in the bilateral upper extremities, rheumatoid arthritis and hepatitis B, tinnitus, and depression are all pending.

The VA has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disability evaluations combine to an overall 60 percent rating under the Combined Ratings Table for the appellate period of September 2010 to February 2016.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations are inadequate and remands the case for further development, including a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed cervical spine, lumbar spine, and left leg disabilities.