Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus has aggravated his nonservice-connected degenerative and discogenic disease of the lumbar spine, resulting in radiculopathy. The Board finds that this constitutes a classic Allen situation where the aggravation is proximately due to the service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected degenerative disc syndrome of the lumbosacral spine warrants a disability evaluation in excess of 40 percent, as it is manifested by pronounced symptoms including pain on motion and muscle spasm with little intermittent relief.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for increased disability evaluations for his service-connected traumatic deformity of the lumbar spine, dorsal spine, and sciatic neuritis, right, mild.

The Board found no evidence that the veteran's left leg pain and sciatica resulted from VA treatment, thus denying his claim for benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151. The veteran's neuropathy of the left radial nerve is currently evaluated at 20 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's request for a rating greater than 20 percent for right upper extremity polyradiculopathy from September 11, 1989 through January 25, 1996.

The Board granted the veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, effective April 22, 2019.

The veteran's special monthly compensation at the housebound rate was granted from August 11, 1997 to September 30, 1998 due to his service-connected right total hip replacement. The appeal for this benefit is denied as of September 30, 1998.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for neuropathy, finding that there was no evidence of a link between his current conditions and his military service or exposure to Agent Orange.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities continued to preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board found that he was entitled to a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities effective from December 21, 1948.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected residuals of a fractured right femur with femoral and sciatic nerve damage and complete foot drop warrant an 80 percent disability rating, which is the maximum schedular evaluation available under Diagnostic Code 8520.

The veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain is not more than 20 percent disabling according to the applicable schedular criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar disc herniation secondary to his lumbosacral strain disability and an increased evaluation for residuals of chronic lumbosacral strain and partial left sciatica, finding that the veteran's current low back symptoms are not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected condition.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disorder and the evaluation of post-operative lumbar decompression laminectomy with arthritis and sciatic/spasms. The March 20, 1981 rating decision was not found to contain clear and unmistakable error.

The veteran's cervical spine, right knee, and headache disabilities were granted increased ratings. The PTSD rating was also granted, but the left corneal scar did not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to changes in the law and incomplete information.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected gunshot wounds to Muscle Groups XVII and VIII, as well as associated neurological symptoms. The veteran now receives a combined rating of 40%.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome with left leg radiculopathy.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder was denied, but his claims for increased ratings and total disability rating based on individual unemployability were granted.

The Board has granted an initial evaluation of 20 percent for the veteran's lumbar spinal stenosis with impingement of sciatic nerve at L4-5 and L5-S1, effective from May 16, 1997.

The veteran's service-connected cervical strain with myalgia is granted a rating in excess of 30 percent, and his additional service-connected degenerative joint disease, spondylosis, and foraminal stenosis of the cervical spine with radiculopathy are found to be directly related to service.