Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2015

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a rating of at least 30 percent, considering his occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks. The other issues remain pending for further examination and evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his right knee disorder, back disorder, left knee disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a current diagnosis of DDD of the lumbar spine and spondylosis with lumbar radiculopathy. The Board also found that this condition is related to active duty.

The Board has reopened the claims for hypertension, lumbar spine disability, right ankle disability, cysts, and hearing loss disability due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial.,No new evidence was found to reopen the claims for left shoulder disability and anxiety/nervousness.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain has been rated at 40 percent since September 1997, and this rating remains in effect.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a TBI was reopened and granted, with an effective date of April 4, 2013.,A compensable rating (20%) is assigned for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, effective from April 4, 2013.,The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% and a higher rating is denied.,Sciatic nerve left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted with an initial rating of 10%, effective from January 13, 2011. The femoral nerve left lower extremity radiculopathy was also granted with an initial rating of 10%, effective from the same date.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied.

The Board has denied service connection for a back disorder due to lack of evidence linking the current condition to service. The claims for respiratory disorder (including sleep apnea) and hypertension are pending as there is no clear indication that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's combined disability rating of the lumbar spine associated disabilities is 60 percent, which meets the criteria for SMC at the housebound rate from April 23, 2008.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the appropriate disability ratings and TDIU status.

The Board has remanded the claims due to inadequate medical opinions and further development is required.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder and increased evaluations for the Veteran's cervical spine and left upper extremity radiculopathy. The effective date is not specified as it relates to these issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The lumbar spine disability was rated at 40 percent, effective July 26, 2013.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was granted a 10 percent initial rating from September 1, 2007 to February 5, 2015. The left hip disability received a noncompensable (zero percent) initial rating and has not been rated higher.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disability, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, is related to his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of application of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1154(b) and an addendum opinion is needed regarding the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and completion of the Veteran's TDIU application. The case will be returned to the Board only if the Veteran perfects an appeal as to this issue.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of her claimed disabilities, including service connection claims and asbestos exposure claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability had its onset during active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected eczema dermatitis is currently rated at 10 percent, effective November 26, 2012. The appeal for a higher initial evaluation remains denied.