Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected chronic low back strain with left L5 radiculopathy, effective from April 1996. The claim for a compensable rating for symblepharon outer angle of the left eye due to abrasion is denied.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 60 percent for the veteran's service-connected spondylolisthesis, finding that the evidence did not warrant such an increase.

The RO improperly reduced the evaluation assigned to the veteran's herniated disc with left sciatica from 60 percent to 20 percent, effective March 1, 2002. The claim for an increased evaluation remains pending.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for lumbosacral degenerative disc and joint disease with history of radiculopathy is being remanded due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the impact of his service-connected disability versus the automobile accident.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including VA examinations to determine the etiology of the veteran's claimed conditions and whether they are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining additional medical records.

The veteran's appeal is denied as his claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for residuals of chip fracture, left hip, with traumatic arthritis was denied. His claims for service connection were also denied, but he was granted new and material evidence to reopen the claim for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with left radiculopathy, status post laminectomy at L5, secondary to his service-connected left hip disorder.

The veteran's service-connected residuals of whiplash injury of the cervical spine with radiculopathy to the left upper extremity are manifested by significant neuropathic pain residual, but without EMG evidence of acute or chronic denervation changes in the musculature of the left upper extremity. This is consistent with no more than mild incomplete paralysis of all radicular groups.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of the veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease, L4-L5, L5-S1, with sciatic neuritis. The claim will be re-adjudicated based on both old and new rating criteria.

The veteran's low back strain with sciatic and left L-5 radiculopathy and bilateral sacroiliac joint narrowing results in a disability comparable to severe intervertebral disc syndrome, warranting a 40 percent evaluation.

The Board granted an increased rating to 40 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease effective March 1977. The veteran's right leg sciatic syndrome was also rated at 40 percent, effective March 25, 2003. The RO granted the veteran a permanent and total disability rating based on his service-connected back disability as of March 25, 2003.

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

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for numbness of both feet and cervical cervicalgia with left-sided C7-8 radiculopathy, as they are not related to his military service.

The veteran's lumbar spine disability with sciatica was granted service connection.,Her digestive (gastric) disability claim was denied.

The veteran's cervical neuritis of the right arm, sciatic neuropathy of the right leg, and cervical neuropathy of the left arm have been granted increased ratings to 40 percent each.,These increases are based on current medical evidence showing moderate to severe sensory disturbances with some organic changes in all three conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for stomach ulcers and a back disorder are denied as new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen these claims, and the current diagnoses do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has granted a 40 percent evaluation for the veteran's lumbosacral strain with arthritis and disc space narrowing of the lumbar spine with S1 radiculopathy, effective February 14, 2001.

The veteran meets the criteria for special monthly compensation for aid and attendance due to his service-connected low back disorders, which render him unemployable and unable to perform activities of daily living without assistance.

The veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 40 percent for his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, status-post L4-L5 discectomy with right lower extremity radiculopathy is being remanded due to the need for further medical evaluation and consideration of revised rating criteria.

The Board has determined that additional development is required before appellate review can be conducted.