Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder radiculopathy is due to or caused by his service-connected cervical spine disability, and thus secondary service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The VA examiners found no current diagnoses of the claimed conditions, or that they are not related to service.,There is insufficient evidence to establish a current hearing loss disability under VA criteria.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his occupational functioning. The issue of entitlement to an extraschedular rating will also be remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment for the period from July 24, 2007, to February 14, 2008.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the percentage criteria for TDIU and prevent him from securing or following a gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, left leg radiculopathy, and right leg radiculopathy are related to service. The appeal is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his lumbar spine disability, right knee strain, left knee strain, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to August 11, 2011. Effective from August 11, 2011, the Veteran is granted a TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's radiculopathy and radiculitis of the right lower extremity were manifested by severe, incomplete paralysis without muscle atrophy throughout the entire appeal period. The Board finds that a 40 percent rating is warranted for this condition.

The Veteran's chronic lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc changes and subjective radiculopathy has been rated at 20 percent since the date of service connection, March 31, 2010.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine and right leg sciatica disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service, nor are they proximately due to a service-connected disability. The VA examiners concluded there was no causal relationship between his service-connected right knee condition and his lumbar spine and sciatica disorders.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent prior to November 12, 2016 and higher than 10 percent thereafter.,The Veteran's lumbar spine compression fracture and sprain are not entitled to a rating higher than 20 percent.,The Veteran's L2-L4 left radiculopathy with meralgia paresthetica is rated at 10 percent prior to March 28, 2012.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant before a decision was made.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for withdrawal of the claim for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding entitlement to an earlier effective date for service connection for radiculopathy of the lower extremities.

The Board finds that the Veteran was not precluded from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities prior to May 27, 2008.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent disabling effective March 18, 2015. The right lower extremity radiculopathy was previously rated at 20 percent prior to April 27, 2010 and granted TDIU status prior to March 18, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, L5-S1 was granted. The condition is currently rated at 40 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantial gainful employment.