Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran is granted a TDIU due to her service-connected disabilities preventing her from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right upper extremity is rated at 20 percent, as there are no issues regarding this condition.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left upper extremity is also rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling him for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his current low back disability and the severity of his service-connected residuals of gunshot wound.

The Board granted an initial 20 percent rating for mechanical thoracolumbar muscle strain prior to September 23, 2013, and denied the remaining issues on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability is rated at 20 percent prior to March 16, 2011 and at 40 percent thereafter.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy, which she claims was caused by a 1991 hip injection. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the etiology of her current radiculopathy.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis was not related to her period of active service or service-connected disability. The issues of increased ratings and TDIU were also remanded.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a low back disability with pinched nerve and sciatica, which she contends was incurred in service and is aggravated by her service-connected right ankle periostitis. The Board has determined that the VA examination provided did not consider all relevant evidence and must be remanded to provide an updated opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including ischemic heart disease, PTSD, type II diabetes mellitus, low back disability, and others, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board finds the evidence in equipoise as to whether he is unemployable due to his disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, lumbar pain syndrome, left ankle limited motion, and lower extremity radiculopathy, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that he meets the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, PTSD, anal fissure, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis, tinnitus, peripheral neuropathy, right ankle laxity, inguinal hernia repair residuals, left ear scar, groin scar, and erectile dysfunction, collectively preclude him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available for this condition.,The Veteran's right upper extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 40 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have left lower extremity radiculopathy or a left leg length discrepancy, or pelvic tilt. The claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's attorney was awarded a fee of $3,943.95 for services related to her service connection claims. The Board found that the award was in accordance with proper procedure and ordered.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his lumbar disability with sciatica, hypertension, and migraine headaches are being remanded to allow for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities combine to be 70 percent disabling, but the evidence does not show that they render him incapable of securing and following a substantially gainful occupation. The claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions and issues, including service connection claims for various health problems. The Board has scheduled a Travel Board hearing to address these matters.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity have been granted service connection, with a rating of 10 percent for each condition.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities are granted service connection as they are related to his in-service injuries.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent since April 13, 2012. The Board found that the symptoms of his PTSD are most comparable to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. His left lower extremity radiculopathy is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling.