Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, and he is granted a separate 10 percent rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity. The Board denied his TDIU claim as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found no evidence to support a finding that the Veteran's current low back disability had its onset in service or is otherwise related to active duty, including his claimed in-service back injury.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been rated at 20 percent since October 18, 2014. The initial evaluations for the period from May 4, 2010 to June 14, 2013 were denied.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are currently rated at 20 percent each, while his major depressive disorder is rated at 50 percent. The effective dates for the grants of service connection for both conditions remain May 29, 2012.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to insufficient evidence and a need for an additional VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are denied.,The reduction in the evaluation for residuals of an avulsion fracture of the right ankle resulting in bone spurs and hammertoes from a 20 percent rating to a 10 percent rating, effective March 25, 2011, is found to be improper.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is currently rated at 10 percent, which corresponds to mild incomplete paralysis. The evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board finds that the Veteran's low back disability is as likely as not aggravated by service and grants service connection for a low back disability.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for depression, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and compression fracture of L1 vertebral body were not filed within one year of separation from active service. The effective dates are being denied as the earliest date on which a claim was received is October 1, 2009.,The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for his service connection for compression fracture of L1 vertebral body and left lower extremity radiculopathy were not filed within one year of separation from active service. The effective dates are being denied as the earliest date on which a claim was received is May 19, 2008.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of the appellant's claimed conditions, including whether they are related to his service in August 1976. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Veteran's lumbar disc disease, post-fusion L4-S1 was granted a 40 percent rating effective July 15, 2015. Service connection for degenerative disc disease C5-C6 and C7 with localized spinal stenosis and radiculopathy was established.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining VA and private treatment records. The issue of an increased rating for radiculopathy, left lower extremity, will be addressed in a statement of the case.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathy of the lower extremities. The Board has remanded these matters for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and issuing a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board granted service connection and increased ratings for the veteran's lumbosacral strain, degenerative disc disease of L4-S1 with radiculopathy, and residuals of a fractured left fibula. The hearing loss disability was not rated as compensable under either pre-amendment or post-amendment regulations.

The Board found that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's low back strain with sciatica is currently evaluated at 20 percent, and the Board found that this evaluation adequately reflects her current disability level.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for his service-connected radiculopathy of the lower extremities were denied. The claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include depression, secondary to his service-connected low back disability was granted. He is now eligible for TDIU.

The Veteran's low back disability and lumbar radiculopathy are being remanded for further examination to determine if they are related to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board denied all claims, finding that the evidence did not support an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for GERD with esophageal ulcerations or a rating in excess of 20 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy from September 18, 2014. The Veteran's right leg fractures at the knee cap and ankle, bilateral hip disability, and neck disability were not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and examinations regarding his service-connected disabilities, including DJD of the thoracolumbar spine, DJD of the left ankle, chondromalacia patella of the left knee, chondromalacia patella of the right knee with degenerative changes, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.