Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including DDD of the lumbosacral spine and coronary artery disease, preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for bladder dysfunction, radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, and a disability evaluation in excess of 20 percent for residuals of fracture of L-1 vertebra with mild degenerative changes to lumbosacral spine. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also granted.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than June 25, 2010 for the assignment of a 10 percent rating for service-connected external hemorrhoids is denied.,For hearing loss in the right ear prior to April 28, 2016 and a rating in excess of 70 percent for bilateral hearing loss thereafter, the Veteran's claim is denied. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating or a rating in excess of 70 percent during the appeal period.,For lumbar spine disability, the Veteran's claim is denied as his service-connected lumbar spine disability has not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent at any time during the appeal period. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for an increased rating due to IVDS with incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 4 weeks during the past 12 months, forward flexion of the lumbar spine limited to 30 degrees, ankylosis, or neurologic abnormalities (other than radiculopathy of the lower extremities).,For right leg sciatica and left leg radiculopathy, the Veteran's claim is denied as his service-connected disabilities have not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent at any time during the appeal period. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for an increased rating due to at least moderately severe incomplete paralysis.,The Veteran's claims for residuals of a stroke, right shoulder disorder, and prostate disorder are addressed separately.

The Veteran's low back disorder and sciatica are found to be related to service, while his right knee disorder is not. Service connection for the low back and sciatic nerve disorders is granted, but service connection for the right knee disorder is denied.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of both lower extremities is related to her service-connected DDD of the lumbar spine, and she is granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's DJD of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 20 percent since June 29, 2011. The effective date for service connection of bilateral radiculopathy of the lower extremities has been set at May 8, 2014.,No increased rating is warranted prior to March 17, 2010 and from March 17, 2010 to June 29, 2011. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the lower extremities has been rated at 20 percent since May 8, 2014.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathies were evaluated under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The Board found that her symptoms did not meet or approximate criteria for a higher rating based on functional loss due to pain, as there was no objective evidence of pain on active range of motion testing or following repetitive motion testing.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disabilities have been denied. The evidence does not support the assignment of any higher disability ratings.

The Veteran is entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to December 7, 2012 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected back disability and sciatica.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, status post lumbar fusion was denied as there is no evidence showing forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 30 degrees or less, or favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his degenerative joint disease of the right knee was denied as there is no evidence showing flexion limited to 30 degrees, or extension limited to 15 degrees; or ankylosis.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disability, cervical radiculitis, and bilateral upper radiculopathy are not related to active service or any incident of service. The claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not entitled to service connection for his claimed cervical spine disorders and radiculopathy, as there is no medical evidence establishing a link between these conditions and his active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left leg sciatic nerve disorder is attributable to his service-connected low back disability and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, including osteoarthritis of the right knee and residuals of a total left knee replacement. The issues of increased ratings for lumbar spine DDD and lower extremity radiculopathy have been dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy was denied, but he was granted TDIU on extra-schedular basis. The effective date is not specified.

The Veteran's claims for left foot disability, right foot disability, and right leg disability were dismissed. The Board granted service connection for left knee strain and degenerative joint disease, as well as lumbar degenerative disk disease and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 because his sciatic nerve damage with foot drop was not caused by VA's carelessness, negligence, or similar instance of fault.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his thoracolumbar spine and sciatic nerve disabilities have been withdrawn.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability was rated at 20% prior to September 18, 2014 and at 40% from September 18, 2014 to June 22, 2015. Effective September 1, 2015, the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability was rated at 40%. Right lower extremity radiculopathy was separately rated at 10%.