Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional consideration of his claim by the RO, including the recent treatment reports from the Phoenix VAMC.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of cervical discectomy with radiculopathy of the upper right extremity, bilateral hearing loss, and tremors of the lower extremities. The decision found that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim for cervical spine disability, and that there was no current evidence linking the veteran's hearing loss or tremors to service.

The Board found that the veteran's lumbar and thoracic spine disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service, with no new evidence presented to reopen the claims. The preexisting lumbosacral strain was held to have been aggravated during service.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for a back disorder diagnosed as lumbar radiculopathy, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the case can be further adjudicated, including obtaining complete records of treatment and arranging for a VA examination to determine the likely etiology of the appellant's low back disability.

The veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for degenerative disc disease of L3-4 to L5-S1, mild broad based disc bulging with spondylosis and radiculopathy of the left leg were denied. His claim for separate 10 percent evaluations for bilateral tinnitus was also denied as a matter of law due to the undifferentiated nature of the disorder.

The veteran's low back syndrome with degenerative disc disease at L4-L5 and L5-S1, and radiculopathy is currently rated as 40 percent disabling. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to evaluate his service-connected back disability and sarcoidosis.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a supplemental statement from the VA physician who examined the veteran in November 2003 and ensuring that all pertinent medical records are obtained.

The VA denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's arthritis of the lower dorsal and upper lumbar spine with radiculopathy, currently rated at 20 percent.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded to the RO for further development.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for higher ratings due to inadequate VA examination and development of evidence is required.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease and left L5-S1 radiculopathy prior to October 29, 2003 was denied. The RO found that the disability did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under the old rating criteria.

The veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected cervical spine disability was granted, with the current rating of 30 percent being maintained.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his knee and back disabilities.

The veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection were denied. The claim to reopen his previously denied left sciatica claim was also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected conditions do not warrant a compensable evaluation for any period since September 1, 1996.

The veteran's initial increased rating claim for low back strain was denied, and his secondary service connection claim for a psychiatric disorder was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a deviated septum, sinus disorder, right ear hearing loss, and arthritis of the feet. The tinnitus claim was granted with a 10% disability evaluation.

The Board found no evidence of a cervical spine disorder in service or within one year after service, and there is no competent evidence linking the appellant's current cervical spine disorders to his periods of service. Therefore, service connection for cervical canal spinal stenosis, degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, and C5-6 radiculopathy was denied.