Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2016

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left lower extremity sciatica and PTSD are being remanded due to the receipt of additional evidence.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected lumbar spine spondylosis is being remanded due to the receipt of additional evidence.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee patellofemoral syndrome and headaches are being remanded due to the receipt of additional evidence.,The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected residuals of a traumatic brain injury is being remanded due to the receipt of additional evidence.,The reduction in rating for a right ankle disorder from 10 percent to a noncompensable rating was proper, and this portion of the appeal period is no longer before the Board.

The Board granted service connection for coronary artery disease post myocardial infarction and assigned a 10 percent evaluation, effective July 2, 2005. The Veteran's calcaneal spur of the right heel (claimed as tendonitis of the right heel) and right ankle disability were also found to be related to his service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, asthma, and an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD and anxiety), finding new and material evidence. The appeals are granted to this limited extent.

The Board has granted initial ratings of 20 percent for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, effective from June 24, 2014.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability and denied an increased rating for anxiety disorder. The evidence did not support a finding of causation or aggravation.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine DJD with facet syndrome was granted a 40 percent rating effective from June 24, 2014. The disability is characterized by pain and limited motion without ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability warrants a rating of 20 percent effective June 2, 2016.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain the appellant's Worker's Compensation and SSA records, schedule an appropriate VA examination for his back condition, and determine if there is a nexus between his service and his current disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his low back disability. The TDIU claim will also be referred for consideration on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA outpatient treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a new VA examination to assess his service-connected low back and right knee disabilities.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection for sleep apnea, right foot disability, left foot disability, bilateral toe disability, and cellulitis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU prior to August 11, 2014.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to his service-connected low back disorder and associated peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities. The Board has determined that additional examinations are necessary to evaluate the current severity of these disabilities, as well as to address the etiology of the upper extremity condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's DJD of the right hand, bilateral ankles, and cervical DDD were not incurred or aggravated by service. The preponderance of evidence is against a finding that these conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) have been denied as new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen these claims. The remaining issues on appeal are addressed, but no rating or effective date is assigned.

The Veteran's claim for an annual clothing allowance was denied due to the VA Medical Center (MC) in Decatur, Georgia. The denial stated that his braces did not cause wear or tear on his clothes. However, the Veteran provided evidence showing he used braces and claimed they caused damage to his clothes. The Board has ordered a remand to conduct further examination and review of the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pes planus, right knee arthritis, chronic left knee strain, and arthritis of the lumbar spine are related to his active service.

The Veteran withdrew his claims, and the Board does not have jurisdiction over these issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is proximately due to or the result of an in-service injury, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.,While the Veteran presented credible testimony regarding his cardiac disability, a preponderance of the evidence does not support finding that it was caused by service.

The Board has determined that the current development is insufficient to determine if any diagnosed low back disability is related to service or service-connected conditions. The Veteran needs a VA examination to clarify this issue.