Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for recurrent pleurisy, to include scar on lung as a qualifying chronic disability under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317 has been withdrawn.

The Board finds that the Veteran has radiculopathy of the left lower extremity due to her service-connected lumbar spine disorder, and grants service connection for this disability.

The Veteran's initial ratings for his back disability and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity have been granted, with a 40 percent rating assigned for the back disability effective February 23, 2011, and a 20 percent rating assigned for the radiculopathy of the left lower extremity effective February 23, 2011. The Veteran's initial ratings have not changed since the grant of service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, but denied his other service connection and rating claims.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder, headaches, left shoulder disorder, left arm disorder, and chest pain are all related to his military service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD, along with associated alcohol dependence and other service-connected conditions, most nearly approximates the criteria for a 70 percent rating beginning April 13, 2012. The Board granted service connection for neurological disabilities of the upper and lower extremities as secondary to his PTSD and associated alcohol dependence. Service connection was also granted for radiculopathy of the right leg and bilateral CTS, both found to be related to his PTSD and alcohol dependence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and a current VA knee examination. The Veteran's attorney also filed notices of disagreement regarding service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy and an effective date prior to June 14, 2005.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the claims can be decided, including obtaining VA and non-VA treatment records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the low back disability and sciatica in the left and right legs.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and inaccurate history in a previous VA examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for his back disability is being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his left leg disability and sciatica, prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that a TDIU rating is warranted.

The Veteran's right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy has been productive of mild incomplete paralysis, and the criteria for an initial disability rating higher than 10 percent have not been met.

The Veteran's appeal is denied for increased ratings for PTSD, left lower extremity radiculopathy (prior to April 18, 2013), and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The issues are not related to service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further VA examinations. The issues of service connection for various conditions are under review.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and left leg radiculopathy have not met the criteria for a higher evaluation since July 21, 2009. The Veteran's right leg radiculopathy has also been evaluated separately.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain updated VA and private treatment records, schedule a VA examination for his left lower extremity sciatica, and determine the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability. The TDIU issue will be deferred until these issues are resolved.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain has been rated as noncompensable, but the May 2012 VA examination revealed significant impairment warranting a compensable rating. The decision granted an increased disability rating of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's post herpetic neuralgia of the left sciatic nerve is manifested by pain and mildly decreased sensation, but no impairment of reflexes, weakness, atrophy or organic changes; it does not produce more than moderate neuralgia.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings was denied. The cervical spine disability is rated at 20% and separate ratings of 20% each were granted for upper extremity radiculopathy effective March 10, 2015. The reduction in the right knee rating from 30% to 0% is found to be void ab initio.

The Board has denied service connection for cervical spine disc disease and cervical radiculopathy of the left upper extremity. The Veteran's current disability is not related to his active service or a service-connected condition.