Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and VA treatment records. The TDIU claim will also be addressed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his mood disorder and multiple spine and nerve conditions, have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment since September 14, 2010. A total rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and development of his claims due to the age of his last VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder condition, including cervical radiculopathy and neuritis, is secondary to his service-connected cervical spine disability. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity are rated at their maximum schedular ratings, with tinnitus receiving a separate initial rating. The hearing loss claim is not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a medical examination to address his current diagnoses of right leg, foot, and wrist pain.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for VA and private medical records, including those from the United States Postal Service. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar disorder with associated radiculopathy and sciatica is being remanded for further action.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of VA examination and notification. The claims are being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral sciatica has been withdrawn. The issue of an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for depression remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Veteran's lumbar strain and right leg sciatica were rated at 10% prior to June 19, 2013. From that date, the disability was increased to 20%. The next higher rating of 40% is warranted due to functional loss.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED to the agency of original jurisdiction for further action on his claims.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, and his radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities are each rated at 10 percent. The claims for increased ratings are granted.

The Board has granted service connection for a left hip disability (claimed as osteoarthritis) and awarded temporary total rating based on convalescence following right foot bunionectomy. Service connection was denied for back cysts, bilateral sciatica, neck strain, and right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable during the time periods at issue, as his combined evaluation was sufficient to meet the percentage requirements for a schedular TDIU and he had other factors that prevented employment.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including IVDS and degenerative arthritis, is rated at 40 percent from February 5, 2015. His sciatica of the right lower extremity remains at a 40 percent rating since that date.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 20 percent for lumbar radiculopathy of the left lower extremity was denied. The Board found that his disability manifested in no more than moderate incomplete paralysis, warranting a 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his lumbar spine disability and obtaining medical records from all relevant sources. The TDIU issue will also be addressed in light of this new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar and cervical spine, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, residuals of a fracture of the nose, chronic rhinitis, and temporomandibular joint dysfunction, have combined to preclude locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair. As such, he is eligible for specially adapted housing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disabilities are not related to his service or a service-connected condition, and therefore, denied the claim for service connection.