Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The VA denied a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain with radiculopathy, which is currently rated at 40 percent.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his service-connected low back disability and entitlement to a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability. The RO found that the veteran's current disability does not meet the schedular requirements for assignment of a higher disability rating.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings was denied. The RO granted a 20 percent rating for post-operative residuals of a herniated disc, L5-S1, effective from the date of receipt of the claim in June 1996.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection due to a lack of medical evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied across multiple issues, including his psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus, retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, right knee disorder, left knee arthritis, lumbar spine condition, cervical spine condition, lung disease (asbestosis), and hypertension. The Board found that new evidence did not reopen his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder but denied all other claims.

The Board finds that the veteran's back disability, diagnosed as degenerative changes of the lumbar spine with radiculopathy, was incurred in his active duty service. The decision grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the claim for an increased rating has been denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and adjudication of the issues related to PTSD, cervical radiculopathy/myelopathy, and the initial rating for residuals of cervical spine injury with degenerative changes.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine disability and sciatica was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating prior to July 28, 2004, or beginning July 28, 2004.

The veteran's HNP resulted in severe, recurring attacks with intermittent relief and responsiveness to physical therapy. The VA determined that a 40 percent evaluation is appropriate under the old rating criteria.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim and determined that his additional low back disability is secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities, warranting service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral leg, left ankle, and lumbosacral spine disabilities have been denied as these conditions are not related to his active duty service.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for intervertebral disc syndrome and left lower extremity radiculopathy was denied. The current disability ratings are not sufficient to meet the requested increase.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral foot disabilities.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 60 percent rating for low back injury with radiculopathy involving the left lower extremity was denied as it is not factually ascertainable from the evidence of record that in the year prior to September 2, 1999, an increased rating was warranted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for TDIU and clothing allowance, as well as a higher rating for his left foot disability. The veteran was granted a 10% rating for his healed fracture of the first metatarsal in January 1993, which has been increased to 80% since February 22, 2001.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent her from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that she is unemployable due to these conditions.

The Board granted a 40 percent evaluation for the service-connected low back disability, classified as low back pain with left lower extremity radiculopathy, effective prior to December 14, 2000. The Board also found that appellant's service-connected disabilities were sufficient to produce unemployability, effective prior to January 1, 2005.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with sciatica secondary to service-connected bilateral pes planus. The claim for an increased rating for bilateral pes planus remains denied.

The Board has determined that a 60 percent rating is warranted for the veteran's service-connected mid and low back disability throughout the appeal period.