Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD and remanded other issues including ratings for his back, right shoulder, and leg disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied, but he is now granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a Travel Board hearing. The specific conditions and issues are related to service connection claims.

The Board has remanded the case for several reasons, including clarifying whether the Veteran desires new representation and scheduling a videoconference hearing. The claims of service connection for lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as the claim for TDIU, are pending.

The Veteran's active duty service was less than 90 days during the Persian Gulf War era, and he did not meet eligibility requirements for VA home loan benefits based on his Selected Reserve service due to a discharge for failing medical fitness standards.

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

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing low back disability was not aggravated by service and denied his claim for service connection. The radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is attributed solely to the Veteran's back disability, which also resulted in denial.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the lumbar spine disability did not meet or approximate criteria for a higher rating prior to July 31, 2014, but did meet criteria for a 20 percent rating beginning July 31, 2014. Ratings in excess of those assigned were not warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar degenerative disc disease with radiculopathy is causally related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, left knee disability, skin cancer due to sun exposure, and erectile dysfunction (ED), all secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for PTSD with anxiety disorder, lumbar spine osteoarthritis, and right lower extremity sciatica were denied. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under the applicable rating schedule.,For conditions other than right foot and left foot plantar fasciitis with pes planus, no new or material evidence was presented to reopen previously denied service connection claims.

The Board has determined that the evidence supports reopening and granting service connection for low back disability, left leg disability, and right leg disability as secondary to service-connected bilateral pes planus. The effective date of this decision is August 3, 2001.

The Veteran's service-connected right L5-S1 radiculopathy is manifested by complaints of chronic pain, tingling, and numbness; however, as objective examination has shown minimal to no reflex, sensory, or motor defects, impairment amounting to moderately severe incomplete paralysis or neuralgia of the sciatic nerve has not been shown. The criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent have not been met.

The Board has granted a rating of 30 percent for post-traumatic lumbar arthritis with residual L1 compression deformity and an initial rating of 20 percent for left L5 radiculopathy with foot drop, effective from March 4, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates have been granted. The initial compensable rating for right shoulder bursitis prior to January 29, 2013 has also been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's neck and right arm disabilities are not related to her service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including consideration of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of service connection for depression. The TDIU issue remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the nature and severity of his service connected residuals from a lumbar strain and whether his bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy was caused or aggravated by this condition. The examiner should also address whether the Veteran's radiculopathy is secondary to his service-connected lumbar strain.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on the issues of effective dates and disability ratings for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies.