Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional records and notification.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain prior to March 1, 2007 or from March 1, 2007 through November 2, 2008, and denied his claim for increased ratings. The Veteran's radiculopathy was rated at a 10 percent disability rating effective as of June 1, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and providing the Veteran with new VA examinations to address his claims.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability was granted with a 20% evaluation from November 17, 2005 to April 9, 2008. From April 10, 2008, the Veteran is entitled to a 40% evaluation for his service-connected lumbosacral spine disability.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy (claimed as bilateral leg pain), and bilateral hip disabilities. These claims are being remanded to obtain a VA examination and review of the medical records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and any other necessary development. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back condition with radiculopathy will be reconsidered based on the newly obtained evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's current complaints of hand cramping are related to pre-existing conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, ulnar neuropathy, and cervical spine radiculopathy, which are not service-connected. The chronic disability of cramps in the neck, feet, and legs is also not shown.

The Board has granted service connection for CIDP and assigned a rating of 30 percent, effective from the date of separation. The claim for an increased rating for sleep apnea remains denied. The issue of TDIU is also addressed.

The Board found that the Veteran's chronic right ankle sprain is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing at the RO to address his claims of increased disability ratings for right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, as well as carpal tunnel syndrome in both wrists.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from successfully achieving his chosen vocational goal of obtaining a Master's degree in teaching, and it is not reasonably feasible for him to do so.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability was initially evaluated as 10 percent disabling from April 25, 1995 until September 7, 1999 and again from December 1, 1999 until January 23, 2007. The evaluation was increased to 40 percent effective January 23, 2007.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board found that the appellant's current low back disorders are not related to his service, including a 1968 explosion in Vietnam. The claim was denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease resulting in the current conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder, including degenerative disc disease and arthritis, is service-connected. The examiner will be asked to determine if the right lower extremity neurological condition (sciatica) is caused or aggravated by the service-connected low back disorder.

The Board has determined that the evidence supports reducing the evaluation for lumbosacral strain from 40 percent to 20 percent, effective March 1, 2007. The Veteran's service-connected bowel disorder is not supported by competent medical evidence and thus denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, left leg radiculopathy, and right knee disorder due to lack of evidence showing a chronic condition during or after service.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is rated at 20 percent, which is more than the initially assigned 10 percent rating. The Veteran's low back disability remains at a 40 percent rating.