Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request in an August 2014 statement.

The Veteran's right hand disability, including a third metacarpal fracture and carpal tunnel syndrome, has been rated at 30 percent since November 8, 2005. The Board found that the current level of disability does not warrant an increased rating.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder and cervical spine have been rated based on their current manifestations, with no additional ratings granted.,Service connection has not been established for fatigue and insomnia or bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's residuals of a neck injury with radiculopathy of the left shoulder and arm do not meet the criteria for an increased rating beyond the current 20 percent evaluation.

The Board has decided that the case should be remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a copy of the chiropractor's letter. The intertwined issue of whether new and material evidence was received to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for degenerative joint and disc disease of the cervical spine is also referred back to the AOJ.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for an extra-schedular rating.

The Veteran's lumbar spine strain with degenerative disc disease is rated at 40 percent. The left lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 20 percent from January 9, 2009 to January 5, 2012; and 10 percent prior to that period. An effective date of June 1, 2015 for the 20 percent rating for left ulnar neuropathy with cubital tunnel syndrome is granted.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and finds that his service-connected disabilities materially contributed to his death from respiratory failure due to COPD. The appeal is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations were denied as his lumbosacral strain and right knee disabilities do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have diagnosed bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy or neurological disability related to his service-connected back disability, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and worker's compensation records. The Veteran is also to be scheduled for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his low back disability with radiculopathy.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral lower extremity sciatica is currently rated at 10 percent, the minimum rating available under VA regulations. The evidence does not support a higher initial rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for radiculopathy was denied. Her claim for PTSD remains pending and her left knee instability rating is also pending.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was rated at 20 percent prior to August 15, 2013 and increased to 20 percent thereafter. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right upper extremity is not more than mild in nature.

The Veteran's appeal for the issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss in the right ear was withdrawn prior to the Board's decision. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that he meets the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's lumbosacral radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is currently rated at 20 percent, which corresponds to moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in permanent and total disability that is due to the loss or loss of use of one or both lower extremities, precluding locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes or a wheelchair. The Board finds that this meets the criteria for specially adapted housing.

The Veteran's original claims for service connection were not received by VA prior to March 1, 2010. The effective date for the grants of service connection for PTSD; cervical spondylosis with neck myelopathy/radiculopathy; left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy/radiculopathy; scar, residuals, shrapnel fragment wound, neck; linear scar inferior to the left patella; and curvilinear left medial knee scar disabilities is denied.,The effective date for the grant of service connection for right foot drop is granted as March 1, 2010. The appeal period had not ended when the information concerning right foot drop compensation was specifically raised by the Veteran.