Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected low back disorder, but granted a 40% rating effective from July 31, 1998. The veteran appealed the effective date.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the service-connected spondylolisthesis at L5 with sciatica, effective July 18, 2001. The claim for an increased rating for postoperative residuals of recurrent bilateral inguinal hernia was denied.

The Board has determined that further examination is needed to properly evaluate the veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left sciatic nerve injury and shell fragment wounds of the left buttock, left forearm, and right foot. The RO should ensure all requested development is completed.

The veteran's combined disability rating is 60%, which does not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for cervical spine arthritis with radiculopathy, finding that there was no evidence of a direct relationship between his in-service injuries and his current condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability, now described as post-traumatic discogenic disease of the lumbosacral spine with L5-S1 disc herniation and radiculopathy, is manifested by pronounced intervertebral disc syndrome, warranting an increased rating of 60 percent under Diagnostic Code 5293.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected lumbar spine disability was granted effective October 15, 1999. The Board found that the earlier April 1996 claim was abandoned due to the veteran's failure to provide missing evidence within one year after being requested to do so.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his post-traumatic lumbar disc disease with fusion at L2-L4, stenosis at L5-S1, and radiculopathy, as it did not meet the criteria for a higher schedular evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD symptoms prior to February 25, 1998 more closely approximated a 100 percent schedular rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's traumatic sacro-iliac joint strain, with herniated nucleus pulposus and left L5 radiculopathy warrants a 60 percent disability evaluation.

The veteran is seeking special monthly compensation based on loss of use of his lower extremities due to a service-connected low back disability. The Board has ordered additional VA examinations and requested the RO to obtain all relevant medical records in order to determine if the veteran's functional limitations are solely attributable to his service-connected condition.

The Board has granted increased disability ratings for chronic headaches and muscle strain of the thoracic and lumbar spine, with radiculopathy. The appellant's symptoms have been characterized by severe economic inadaptability due to his headaches, moderate pain and minimal functional impairment from his thoracic spine strain, and no clinically demonstrable radiculopathy from his lumbar spine strain.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for cause of death.

The veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine is currently rated at 20 percent, which reflects moderate pain with recurring attacks. The Board found that this condition does not warrant a higher rating as it does not meet the criteria for severe intervertebral disc syndrome or severe limitation of motion.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 60% rating for degenerative disc disease at C3-7 with radiculopathy was denied as there is no legal basis under the law to assign such a date.

The veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 40 percent, and the Board has granted an increased rating. However, he remains unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date for his service connection for COPD and TDIU. The effective date for the TDIU was granted as of April 23, 1998.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a low back disability, including arthritis and sciatica. Additional development is needed to obtain relevant medical records.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for special monthly death pension for the surviving spouse of the veteran by reason of being housebound due to her not being substantially confined to her home or immediate premises.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for reimbursement of medical expenses incurred at a non-VA hospital due to lack of authorization and availability of VA facilities.