Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's low back disability and lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted initial ratings of 50%, 40%, and 20% respectively, effective from May 30, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to September 26, 2016 for the grants of service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome, tinnitus, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 50% disability rating for bilateral flat feet has also been denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the issue of aggravation of non-service-connected disabilities by service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, and no merits decision was made.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his back disability and radiculopathy are remanded due to inadequate examination findings. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is intertwined with the rating claims.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his back disability is denied. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support a rating in excess of 20 percent for his lumbar spine disability. Additionally, compensable evaluations are granted for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy effective December 8, 2015.

The Veteran's cervicogenic headache disability is rated at 30 percent, which is the highest rating available under the applicable diagnostic code. The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy has been rated at 10 percent and his right lower extremity radiculopathy prior to November 13, 2017, was also rated at 10 percent, while after that date it is rated at 20 percent. All these ratings are denied.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's low back strain, cervical spine strain, and radiculopathy of the upper extremities due to inadequate examination reports. The AOJ is instructed to schedule a new VA examination for the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral recurrent tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the current tinnitus arose in service, and resolves all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate rationale in a previous VA examination, and further development is required before deciding the issue on appeal.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, and his sciatic nerve radiculopathy of the left lower extremity was granted a temporary 10 percent rating from September 9, 2010 to May 31, 2017. From May 31, 2017 onwards, all other sciatic nerve radiculopathies and femoral nerve radiculopathies are denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a spine disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as his TDIU claim due to an incomplete medical examination. The issues will be reconsidered after further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected degenerative joint disease, thoracic strain with radiculopathy, bilateral 7th and 8th thoracic nerve roots (claimed as disc bulging at T7/-T8/T9-T9).

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease, increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD, to reopen a previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back condition, as well as the claims for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity and left lower extremity. The Veteran's death was caused by his neurological condition, which is presumed to have been related to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.,The Board has also granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including examinations and consideration of new evidence. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities include L4-L5 space narrowing degenerative arthritis, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, traumatic arthritis of the right shoulder, left knee disability, and ankle disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy and cervical spine disability, finding no evidence of a nexus to service.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's petitions to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for DM and pancreatitis. The petition to reopen his claim of service connection for a back condition was granted, as were those for peripheral neuropathy of the RLE and LLE.

The Veteran's bilateral breast calcification, claimed as fibrocystic breast disability, is granted service connection. The issues of hypertension, urinary hesitancy, ovarian cyst disability, TMJ disorder, and other disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his service-connected DJD in the lumbar spine from July 7, 2008 is denied. The TDIU issue is remanded due to insufficient evidence.