Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for another VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome and its relationship to his service-connected residuals of post-surgery nonunion scaphoid bone fracture.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is being remanded for additional development as the current evidence does not sufficiently address his service connection claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his claimed conditions are not causally or etiologically related to service, including any injury or event therein.

The Veteran's neck disorder and low back disability are being remanded for additional development to determine their etiology, severity, and impact on employment.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete VA treatment records and a need to ascertain the current severity of the Veteran's low back disability.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability, right and left lower extremity sciatic syndrome have not been found to warrant a higher rating based on current symptomatology.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease was denied in the December 2009 Board decision. The new and material evidence submitted since that time relates to a possible secondary relationship between cervical spondylosis with radiculopathy and chest pain during service, which could potentially relate to coronary artery disease.,The Veteran's claim for reopening of his cervical spondylosis with radiculopathy was reopened based on the submission of new evidence suggesting a potential secondary relationship.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected low back disability and lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left lower extremity radiculopathy was granted, with a 10 percent evaluation effective March 16, 2005.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right leg radiculopathy, at least in part, is etiologically related to his service-connected sacroiliitis and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy has been granted an initial 20 percent rating, effective June 1, 2012.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate medical opinions and consideration of other issues raised by a Joint Motion.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and review of treatment records.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is currently rated at 20 percent, but his symptoms are more severe and warrant a higher rating.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is currently rated at 20 percent, but his symptoms are more severe and warrant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verifying the appellant's National Guard service and obtaining relevant records from NPRC. The AOJ should also attempt to obtain any worker's compensation claim information and employment status details.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar strain with thoracic spine degeneration and sciatica associated with the condition were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent for these conditions between March 14, 2011 and August 11, 2014.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, diagnosed as cervical degenerative disc disease with left upper extremity radiculopathy, is related to his service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and associated radiculopathy issues have been granted, with a rating of 40 percent effective November 25, 2014. The right lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 20 percent since that date.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar and cervical spine disabilities have been rated at the maximum available benefit, with a 40 percent rating for thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc disease and a 30 percent rating for cervical spine degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc disease.,The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy has been rated at the maximum available benefit, with a 20 percent rating. The left lower extremity radiculopathy has also been rated at the maximum available benefit, with a 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's status-post thoracolumbar strain is rated at 20 percent, effective January 25, 2013. His right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are each rated at 40 percent, also effective January 25, 2013. Hypertension remains rated as noncompensably disabling prior to January 25, 2013 and 10 percent thereafter.