Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his service-connected back disability was denied. However, the issue of entitlement to service connection for radiculopathy associated with his service-connected back disability was granted effective June 23, 2008.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability was reopened and granted effective August 1, 2007. The appeal regarding increased evaluations for left lower extremity radiculopathy has been withdrawn and reinstated.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA social and industrial survey to assess employment capacity and a VA examination by a physiatrist to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left hip and leg disabilities are not service-connected as they did not manifest during or within one year after his military service, and there is no evidence linking them to an in-service injury. The disability was found to be due to natural aging processes.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to higher ratings for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities associated with service-connected low back disorder due to insufficient discussion in a previous VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spondylosis and degenerative disc disease with radiculopathy are rated at 60 percent, the maximum available under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The claim for increased rating is denied.

The reduction of the disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss from 10 percent to noncompensable was proper. The Veteran's cervical spine and left upper extremity disabilities are remanded for additional examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, but further development is needed to determine his employment status and the impact of these conditions on his ability to work.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent effective February 3, 2010. He also received separate ratings of 10 percent for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy since February 26, 2010. His hallux valgus disabilities are rated at the maximum allowed under Diagnostic Code 5280. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is assigned a noncompensable rating.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including a lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, neuropathy of the left upper extremity, and neuropathy/sciatica of the lower extremities were denied. The Board found no evidence that these disabilities had their onset in or were related to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sciatica in the right leg, fibromyalgia, bronchitis, asthma, and chemical sensitivities have been granted. The remaining issues remain pending.

The Veteran's bilateral cubital tunnel syndrome was found to have manifested during service and is related to service. The cervical spine disability, including arthritis and degenerative disc disease, as well as cervical radiculopathy, are not currently addressed due to the need for a remand.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and TDIU was granted. For the period prior to June 10, 2010, lumbosacral strain with degenerative disease with L4-L5 disc protrusion and radiculopathy was rated as 10 percent disabling; from June 10, 2010, it is rated as 40 percent disabling.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a right lower extremity disability, which the Board has determined is not related to his active duty. The case is being remanded for further development and examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, back disability, upper and lower extremity disorders, loss of balance, memory loss, stroke residuals, abdominal aortic aneurysm, cancer of the face (basal cell carcinoma), and duodenal or pancreatic tumor. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's cervical radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities is found to be secondary to her service-connected residuals of fracture at C2 with degenerative joint disease, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected back disability and bilateral knee conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the underlying claims can be adjudicated on the merits.