Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection of residuals of a head injury and also denied his claim for a combined disability evaluation greater than 90 percent.

The VA denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the veteran's degenerative disc disease and arthritis of the cervical spine, finding that his disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination and issuance of a statement of the case on the issues of evaluations for lower extremity radiculopathy.

The VA denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for post-operative residuals of a herniated nucleus pulposus of the lumbar spine with degenerative changes, and granted a separate 10 percent rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity effective July 29, 2004.

The veteran seeks service connection for his current diagnosed degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with lower extremity radiculopathy and left and right testicular radiculopathy. The RO has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical records, provide an opinion on the etiology of the low back condition, and consider whether there is any service connection.

The VA denied an initial evaluation greater than 40 percent for the veteran's disk herniation with sciatica, L4-L5 and L5-S1, postoperative condition.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and consideration of his claims due to the need for updated medical evaluations.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for service connection or increased ratings.

The veteran's spine disability, characterized by radiculopathy and degenerative disc disease with associated pain and limited motion, is now rated at the highest available level of 60 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an effective date prior to September 15, 1998 for TDIU and denied his increased rating claims for PTSD, right upper extremity injuries, cervical radiculopathy of the right arm, hand and fingers, and Horner's syndrome, right side of face and eye.

The Board found that the veteran's current back disorders are not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or maintain gainful employment due to his cervical spine and diplopia.

The veteran's sciatic nerve neuropathy with right foot drop and prostatism/neurogenic bladder (urinary incontinence) are rated at the maximum allowable under current regulations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disability, characterized by intervertebral disc syndrome with persistent symptoms and little intermittent relief, warrants a 60 percent evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including an orthopedic examination to determine if the veteran had a fracture of the lumbosacral spine in service and whether any current low back disability can be associated with that prior fracture.

The Board denied an increased rating for the service-connected degenerative disc disease at L5-S1, with recurrent right sciatica, arachnoiditis, excision of scar tissue and nerve root compression at L4, L5 on the left.

The veteran is seeking an increased rating for his service-connected degenerative joint disease with foraminal stenosis, lumbar myositis, strain, and bilateral S1 radiculopathy. The Board has determined that additional development is necessary due to changes in the criteria for evaluating back disorders.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to determine the cause of any disabilities resulting from treatment at a VA facility in Boston, Massachusetts in July 1992.

The Board found that the veteran's current back disability was not present in service and is not related to service or event or occurrence therein. Arthritis may not be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for the veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine with L5-S1 radiculopathy, effective from the date of the initial award. The right eye disability issue remains pending.