Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including providing the relevant rating criteria and affording him a VA examination to assess his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and right sciatica.

The veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is rated at 20 percent, which is higher than the initial 10 percent rating. The claim was granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for presumptive service connection for polyradiculopathy and peripheral neuropathy, including as a result of exposure to Agent Orange. The decision is pending further development on remand.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection of a right upper extremity condition. The veteran's current disability is found to be proximately caused by his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, warranting secondary service connection.

The veteran's initial disability ratings for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and lumbar strain with sciatic pain have been granted, but both conditions are rated at 10 percent. The rating has been increased to 20 percent effective April 9, 2008.

The Board is remanding the case for further development due to questions regarding the exact nature and etiology of the veteran's hip disabilities and lumbar spine condition, as well as potential aggravation by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back disorders, including Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD), Herniated Nucleus Pulposus, and Disc Herniation of the Lumbar Spine with Lower Extremity Sciatica, are attributable to his military service. The preexisting scoliosis and spina bifida occulta were not aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected back disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy do not warrant increased ratings beyond the current assigned ratings.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back disability, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine at L5-S1 with right sciatica, is related to his active military service and has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA neurological examination to determine if the veteran has a sciatic nerve condition and whether it is related to his service. The claim will be re-adjudicated after this additional development.

The Board denied a higher evaluation for right sciatic neuropathy, finding that the veteran's condition did not warrant an evaluation in excess of 40 percent.

The veteran's lumbosacral strain and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity have been rated at 10 percent each, and there is no evidence to warrant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for a new VA orthopedic examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities alone prevent him from securing and following any substantially-gainful employment. The RO is also instructed to obtain all outstanding VA medical records, SSA disability benefits records, and arrange for the veteran to undergo a VA orthopedic examination.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a higher rating for his herniated disc at L4-5 with sciatica, maintaining that the condition warranted only a 40 percent rating from September 10, 2007.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to review it.

The veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, and his right and left foot disabilities are each rated at 10 percent. The claims for increased ratings were denied.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to procedural deficiencies and the need for a VA examination to assess his employability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has granted a higher initial rating of 10 percent for the veteran's lumbosacral spine degenerative facet changes at L3-4, L4-5, and L5-S1, with an additional separate 10 percent rating for associated radiculopathy affecting his right lower extremity.

The Board granted a 40 percent evaluation for low back pain with spondylosis at L5-S1 effective from August 9, 2006. The appellant's left lower extremity radiculopathy was also rated as 10 percent disabling.