Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability did not originate in service, was not manifest within one year of discharge from service, and is not otherwise etiologically related to any period of active duty. The claims for secondary service connection for bilateral knee disability, neurological bilateral foot disability, and sciatic nerve disability have also been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back condition and right leg radiculopathy, effective November 22, 2002. The Veteran's original claim was denied in March 1992 due to lack of new evidence, but the claim was reopened based on additional service records received after January 1999.

The Veteran's knee and lumbar spine conditions have been rated based on their current severity.,No separate rating for left knee meniscectomy is warranted as the condition does not result in symptoms.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities is rated as moderate incomplete paralysis of the femoral nerve, warranting separate initial 20 percent ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease with radiculopathy in the lower extremities does not warrant a higher schedular rating as his range of motion and symptoms do not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depressive disorder and multiple musculoskeletal conditions, have rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since May 1, 2007.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been withdrawn. The remaining issues are remanded for further development and readjudication.

The Veteran was rendered unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities prior to October 2, 2014.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks due to symptoms such as sleep disturbance, depressed mood, and anxiety.,With reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran, his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including another VA examination to assess the current severity of his lumbar disability and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied as her service-connected disabilities did not present an exceptional or unusual disability picture prior to July 1, 2011, and they do not markedly interfere with employment after that date.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities was initially granted with a 10% rating effective March 6, 2012. The Board remanded for further increases in excess of 10 percent from July 1, 2014, which were granted at 20%. Prior to this date, the Veteran's radiculopathy was rated as mild.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his cervical spondylotic myelopathy, thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and associated radiculopathies have been denied. The RO has granted separate ratings for the upper and lower extremity radiculopathies.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a temporary total rating and service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim and that the radiculopathy was secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his medical records.

The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn for his claims seeking service connection for a left ankle disability and increased ratings for his lumbar spine, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies, and bilateral knee disabilities. The Veteran is in need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities and has been granted special adapted housing.

The Veteran is found to be in need of regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities, which includes the need for assistance with activities such as dressing, grooming, preparing meals, attending to personal hygiene needs, taking medications, and protection from environmental hazards.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for any of his claimed conditions, as there is no evidence of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology. The claims are denied.

The Veteran meets the schedular requirements for a TDIU, but he is otherwise able to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment despite service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right knee disorder claim is pending. The Board has granted a rating of 40 percent for his lumbar spine disability, and he now meets the criteria for TDIU prior to September 18, 2015. His right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy are each rated at 10 percent.