Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Board has determined that further development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of increased rating for right knee disability, service connection for back disability and sciatica, as well as secondary service connection. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment, as they do not result in loss of use of a hand or foot, ankylosis of a hip or knee, or central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disorder, right and left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, but denied service connection for right and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development of his VA treatment records, including those from a VA compensated work therapy program and psychiatric hospitalizations prior to May 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar sensory-motor left lower extremity radiculopathy is related to his time in active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary for the Veteran's claims of increased rating for his back disability, service connection for sleep apnea, and secondary service connection for his neck disability due to his back disability. The claims are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and new evidence of worsening symptoms, including pain and functional impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine condition, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy on the merits.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and updated treatment records.,The Board is requesting that the Veteran be scheduled for updated VA examinations to determine the current severity of his musculoskeletal, bowel, and bladder symptomatology.

A rating higher than 20 percent for cervical spondylitis between June 8, 2009 and January 12, 2015 is denied.,A 30 percent rating for cervical spondylitis effective from January 12, 2015 is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disability and sciatica of bilateral lower extremities, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service or a service-connected condition. The Board also denied increased ratings for right shoulder and right ankle disabilities.,Service connection was not granted as the Veteran did not provide sufficient medical evidence to establish that his current lumbar spine disability or sciatica were caused by or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities was denied.,An effective date prior to May 25, 2010 is not warranted as there is no evidence of radiculopathy in the one-year period prior to this date.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to unclear compliance with previous remand directives regarding VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further development, including an examination to determine if the Veteran needs aid and attendance or is housebound based on his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for cervical radiculopathy of the left upper extremity and lumbar radiculopathy of the left lower extremity were denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for colon cancer was also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as they were granted in a previous rating decision. The claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II (diabetes) and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are denied.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right and left sciatic nerves associated with his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is granted at a 40 percent evaluation, effective November 1, 2019.,The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was previously remanded and remains on appeal.

The Board has determined that the claims for higher ratings for lumbar disc herniation with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) and right lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as the TDIU claim, are inextricably intertwined. Therefore, these issues must be remanded to allow for further development.

The Veteran's claim for SMC-AA was filed on September 11, 2006. The Board granted an effective date of September 11, 2006, but no earlier, for the award of SMC-AA.