Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disabilities are not associated with his service-connected epilepsy, and thus denied his claim for secondary service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him in need of regular aid and attendance or housebound, thus denying his claim for special monthly compensation.

The veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Maria Parham Hospital from October 27, 2001 to November 1, 2001 are denied as he could have been safely transferred to a VA facility for treatment.

The veteran's spine disability, characterized by radiculopathy and limited motion, has been granted a 60 percent rating.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic low back disorder present in service or for many years thereafter, and concluded that the veteran's current condition is not related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hip disorder, right knee disorder, neurologic disorder involving the lower extremities (including a sciatic nerve disorder), and chronic back disorder. The evidence did not support these claims.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318, as he was not rated totally disabled continuously for a period of at least ten years immediately preceding his death.

The veteran's claim for a higher initial rating and an extra-schedular rating for his service-connected low back disability is being remanded for additional development.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical disc herniation with spondylosis and radiculopathy, and degenerative arthritis of the left knee. The VA found that the veteran's conditions did not warrant a higher rating based on current medical evidence.

The Board found that the veteran's lumbar spine disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation than 40 percent, as it did not result in ankylosis, bony fixation of the spine, residuals of vertebra fracture, incapacitating episodes, or neurologic involvement.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's lumbosacral strain and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine with radiculopathy, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher than 60 percent rating prior to December 9, 1994.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute substantially to his death. Cancer was not manifested during service or within one year of separation, and the veteran was not entitled to dependency and indemnity compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back strain, incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve in both lower extremities, and patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right knee. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board granted a 30 percent evaluation for the veteran's chronic lumbar myositis, left sciatic nerve neuralgia, and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 20 percent for cervical spine disability with spondylosis and C5 radiculopathy, effective from the date of the May 2002 decision. The lumbosacral spine disability remains noncompensable.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and the need for VA examinations to assess the severity of the veteran's service-connected low back disability. The claim will be reconsidered based on the new examination results.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to improper VCAA notice and the need for a VA orthopedic examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or on a finding that he is permanently housebound, as there was no evidence showing he needed constant help with daily needs such as bathing, dressing, or eating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for neurofibromatosis, hypertension, a nervous disorder, cervical spondylosis with cervical radiculopathy, and chronic dizziness. The decision found that new evidence was not sufficient to reopen the claim for neurofibromatosis, and that there was no evidence linking any of these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.