Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board has granted a grant of service connection for a right ankle disability on a secondary basis, increased the Veteran's migraine rating to 50 percent from April 20, 2009, and awarded TDIU based on his combined disability ratings.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of her lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as to assess her employability given her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's cognitive impairment and other residuals of TBI not otherwise classified are currently rated at 70 percent disabling since January 18, 2011.,PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent disabling since June 15, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examination and development due to the need for a TDIU determination based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a failure to provide proper notice of the scheduled hearing and incomplete claims file. The case will be processed further with the scheduling of a new hearing, obtaining missing documents from the Veteran's prior paper file, and adding those documents to his VBMS file.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right wrist disability, right shoulder arthritis, sleep disorder, and separated collar bone. The claim seeking increased ratings for various disabilities was also denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spondylosis is currently rated at 40 percent, effective February 2, 2013. His left and right lower extremity radiculopathies are each rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for restoration of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus was denied due to severance.,An effective date prior to June 19, 2007, for the grant of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus is not granted as there is no entitlement to this benefit.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for service connection for a kidney condition secondary to type II diabetes mellitus. The issue remains on appeal.,The Veteran does not have a kidney condition that is related to his active duty service or any service-connected disability.,The Veteran does not have peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities due to any incident of his active duty service or to a service-connected disability.,The Veteran does not have peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities due to any incident of his active duty service or to a service-connected disability.,The Veteran does not have radiculopathy of the upper extremities due to any incident of his active duty service or to a service-connected disability.,The Veteran does not have radiculopathy of the lower extremities due to any incident of his active duty service or to a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's prostate condition was not incurred in service and may not be presumed to have been incurred due to exposure to herbicides. The issue remains on appeal.,The Veteran's daughter does not meet the criteria for benefits for a child born with spina bifida.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his low back disability was denied, as the evidence did not meet the criteria for such an increase.

The Veteran's claim for a separate disability rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity prior to September 23, 2010 was denied as there is no evidence of neurological impairment sufficient to warrant such a rating.,The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity from September 23, 2010 was also denied due to lack of evidence indicating at least severe incomplete paralysis.

The Board has remanded the case for further adjudication of the Veteran's claim regarding lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to a lumbar strain.

The Veteran's combined disability rating does not meet the percentage requirements for a TDIU rating under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a). However, his unemployability due to service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability is supported by Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The case is REMANDED for referral to the Director, Compensation Service, for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's headaches have been rated at 30 percent since April 2006, and the Board found that they do not meet or approximate criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability and associated radiculopathy have been granted effective July 1, 2012.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection has been denied. The current evaluation of his cervical spine disability is 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was granted a 20 percent rating, effective July 1983. The RO confirmed and continued this evaluation in October 2002. A September 2006 VA examination showed forward flexion of the cervical spine limited to 20 degrees with pain.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal of these issues prior to a decision being made by the Board.

The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy has been granted a 20 percent rating, effective from December 2009. Service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to service-connected low back disability is also granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy was not caused by a delay in VA medical treatment, and denied his claims for service connection of residuals of injury to the back and wrists.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome. The TDIU claim was also denied as it pertained to a period prior to September 15, 2014.