Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's combined disability rating of the lumbar spine associated disabilities is 60 percent, which meets the criteria for SMC at the housebound rate from April 23, 2008.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the appropriate disability ratings and TDIU status.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The lumbar spine disability was rated at 40 percent, effective July 26, 2013.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination of the left knee, updated VA treatment records to be obtained, and readjudication of the issues.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple conditions was denied. The Board found that hyperlipidemia, a laboratory test result, is not a disability under VA law and therefore cannot be granted.

The Veteran's private medical expenses for obstructive sleep apnea treatment at Pulmonary Physicians of Gainesville on June 12, 2013 were not authorized by VA and did not meet the criteria for reimbursement under applicable laws.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates were granted, with the effective dates being determined based on the date of receipt of his informal claim or the earliest date as of which it is factually ascertainable that an increase in disability had occurred.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for new VA examinations and further development of his claims, including for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity and service connection for depression with anxiety.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his cervical spine disability and lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's service-connected left lower extremity radiculopathy has been rated as 20 percent disabling since December 3, 2014.,Prior to December 3, 2014, the Veteran was granted a 20 percent rating for degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc displacement L4-L5. Since then, he is rated at 40 percent.,The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated as 10 percent disabling since February 9, 2009 and increased to 20 percent effective December 3, 2014. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating for this condition.,The Veteran's left knee laxity was initially granted a 10 percent rating from February 9, 2009. Since then, he has been rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear for a scheduled BVA videoconference hearing. The case will be rescheduled at the Veteran's current address.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine postoperative laminotomy with scar, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies. Additional treatment records must be obtained.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for radiculopathy of the lower extremities has been withdrawn by the appellant, resulting in dismissal of the case.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability was denied, but he was granted a TDIU prior to February 22, 2012.,His lumbar spine disability is primarily characterized by DJD and IVDS. The most recent VA examination found that forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine was limited to 90 degrees with pain on motion.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease with bilateral neural foraminal stenosis at L3-L4, L4-L5 resulted in a 40 percent rating from October 6, 2011. The TDIU was granted on a schedular basis starting March 1, 2015.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development regarding his lumbosacral strain and bilateral leg radiculopathy claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including contacting the Connecticut National Guard to verify if the Veteran had periods of active duty for training in 1985 or 1986 and obtaining any outstanding service treatment records from this period. The claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities was not shown to meet the criteria for a rating greater than 10 percent prior to November 22, 2011.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a concussion, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right hand, and cervical spine disability. The Veteran's right shoulder disability was rated at 20 percent until March 13, 2013, when it was increased to 40 percent. The Board also denied ratings in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's right upper extremity radiculopathy, and denied compensable ratings for his scars and occipital neuralgia.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Veteran was granted a 20 percent rating for his lumbosacral DDD, but not for the radiculopathy of his lower extremities prior to November 6, 2012.