Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a low back injury and sciatic neuritis of the lower extremities have not met the criteria for increased disability ratings beyond those currently assigned.,The Veteran does not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's lower extremity neuropathy is currently rated as noncompensable, with no evidence of more than mild incomplete paralysis. The appeal for increased ratings is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine radiculopathy to the left lower extremity is rated at 40 percent, effective September 13, 2007. The Board also granted a total rating for compensation based on individual unemployability as of that date.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including securing VA treatment records and scheduling a vocational evaluation.

The Veteran's cervical radiculopathy of the left upper extremity is related to his military service and has been granted. The other issues remain under consideration.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, to include bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and insufficient medical evidence linking his current condition to service.

The Veteran's low back strain with degenerative changes and radiculopathy of the lower extremities have been rated at 40 percent since March 4, 2008. The rating is based on direct service connection without any presumption or secondary theory.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU is granted, with the effective date set at May 20, 2004. The Veteran was found to be unemployable due to service-connected disabilities as of that date.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a videoconference hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for intravertebral disc syndrome and radiculopathy of the right and left legs have been granted, with each condition receiving a 20 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, arranging for a neurological examination to determine if the Veteran's lower extremity disabilities are related to his service-connected low back disability, and arranging for a psychiatric examination to determine if he has a psychiatric disability secondary to his service-connected low back disability. The claims will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to January 23, 1998 for the award of a TDIU rating was granted. The Board found that the Veteran was unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities prior to this date.

The Board has remanded the case for a Travel Board hearing due to an incorrect address being used in previous correspondence.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD, cervical spine degenerative joint disease, and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, have resulted in unemployability from April 15, 2009 to July 31, 2011. As of July 1, 2014, the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD, cervical spine degenerative joint disease, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, and prostate cancer, have resulted in unemployability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of radiculopathy of the left lower extremity before a decision was made.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome and bilateral lower extremity sciatica.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to his failure to appear for a scheduled Board hearing. The issues are related to the effective dates of service connection awards for various conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current cervical spine and thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease with bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are related to his in-service combat injury, and service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including hemorrhoids, back condition, and radiculopathy of the lower extremities, preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left lower extremity sciatica and increased ratings for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine were denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of left lower extremity sciatica associated with the lumbar spine disability.