Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of lumbar spine disability and service connection for left ear hearing loss were denied. The claim for hypertension was also denied as it is not related to the service-connected lumbar spine condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical spine disability and granted it, as well as granting service connection for right upper extremity radiculopathy. The Veteran is now entitled to a higher initial evaluation of 10% for her left arm radiculopathy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's treatment at Enloe Medical Center on October 25, 2009 was not for an emergent disability and therefore does not meet the criteria for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for migraines, increased disability ratings for thoracolumbar radiculopathy and degenerative arthritis, and groin pain are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent from April 18, 2005, to November 15, 2009, for chronic low back pain with radiculopathy. The effective date for service connection was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for left upper extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability. Service connection for urticaria is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination for his head injury disability claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to inadequate examinations and the need for further development of her service-connected lumbar spine disability, including right leg radiculopathy.

The Board dismissed the issue of service connection for tinnitus, left ear because it has been rendered moot on appeal due to a December 2010 rating decision granting this claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities are not service-connected, as there is no credible evidence linking these conditions to his active military service or any service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA orthopedic examination and providing an addendum opinion to determine if the Veteran's current low back disorder is related to his in-service complaints of chronic low back pain documented at his separation examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his lumbar spine disability and related radiculopathies did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective December 1, 2006. The Veteran has also been granted service connection for tinnitus with a 10% disability rating effective December 1, 2006.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent effective June 23, 2010.,Right S1 radiculopathy has been granted a 20 percent evaluation from June 23, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development on the issue of entitlement to a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, finding that his hearing loss did not meet VA criteria for a disability and thus could not be service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new examination is required to determine if the Veteran's back disability is related to service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and associated sacroiliac radiculopathy have been rated at 20 percent, effective the date of his claim. The initial ratings for left and right sacroiliac radiculopathy remain at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for chronic cervical intervertebral disc disease with right upper extremity radiculopathy and associated right upper extremity radiculopathy have been dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn her appeal.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability was not incurred or aggravated by his military service and denied his claim.