Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for additional compensation for a dependent spouse prior to October 1, 1998.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an evaluation greater than 40 percent for her back disability, finding that the evidence did not support such a rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current lumbosacral strain and radiculopathy do not warrant an evaluation in excess of 40 percent.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied as the claimed conditions are not related to his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions, including osteoarthritis of the lumbosacral spine with radiculopathy, depression, hepatitis B, appendectomy scar, skin rash, hemorrhoids, right wrist keloid, epididymitis, chronic prostatitis, impotency, colon disorder, anemia, and sinusitis. The claims are denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected hypertension, asthma, and mechanical low back pain with degenerative disc disease L5/S1 and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity. The RO continued the current 20 percent evaluation for the low back disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's cervical spine osteophytes with radiculopathy and has assigned a 20% rating. The ratings for the right knee, left knee, hypertension, and low back condition are all in accordance with current regulations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection, finding that his symptoms did not warrant higher ratings or additional service connection. The RO had already granted service connection for PTSD and asthma, and the current appeal was limited to evaluating his HNP and left hip conditions.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for postoperative residuals of a herniated nucleus pulposus with radiculopathy, the maximum available under VA's rating criteria.

The veteran's combined disability rating is 70 percent effective March 1997, and he is entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The VA determined that the veteran's cervical spine disability, which includes a left centrolateral C5 to C6 disc lesion with left upper radiculopathy, does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

The Board finds that the veteran's low back disability, which resulted from a VA procedure in July 1987, caused additional disabilities of his right leg, foot, and left upper leg. The decision grants compensation for these disabilities.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for PTSD and an increased rating for his lumbar spine disability, finding that there was insufficient evidence to support these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including narcolepsy, carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist, tendonitis (claimed as left arm pain), hypertension, sinus bradycardia, lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease and sciatica, and cervical degenerative joint disease. The appeal is denied.

The veteran's service-connected arthritis of the cervical spine with foraminal encroachment and radiculopathy is rated at 40 percent, which is the highest rating available for this condition. The veteran's thoracic spine disability remains at a 10 percent rating.

The veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 and service connection for PTSD and depression were denied due to lack of evidence showing that the back surgery caused his current conditions.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain, with bilateral radiculopathy, muscle spasms, and intermittent paresthesias is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits was granted effective from September 2, 1997. The effective date is not earlier than the date of receipt of his reopened claim on March 31, 1994.

The veteran's claim for service connection was granted effective March 5, 2000. His right L4 radiculopathy, degenerative joint disease of L5-S1 and lumbar myositis is currently rated at 40%.

The Board has restored the veteran's 60 percent disability evaluation for his service-connected low back disability and denied an increased rating, finding that the evidence did not demonstrate improvement warranting a higher evaluation.