Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection, SMC based on need for aid and attendance, and TDIU due to incomplete records. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is being reviewed.

The Board denied service connection for hip, back, heart, hypertension, and OSA disabilities. The claims were not reopened.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease and related headaches have been granted service connection, with a 10% disability rating effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has denied service connection for a right hand condition due to the lack of evidence of a current disability. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for lumbar spine pain.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral great toes, bilateral ankle disability, lumbar spine disability as secondary to service-connected arterial reconstruction left lower extremity, and bilateral hip disability as secondary to service-connected arterial reconstruction left lower extremity have been denied. The right knee disability claim has not met the criteria for a rating more than 10 percent.,The Veteran's depression claim has not met the criteria for a rating more than 50 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, right knee disability (claimed as knee pain), left shoulder disability, ear pain, and sinus pain due to incomplete development of evidence and need for further medical examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spondylosis with degenerative joint disease and rotator cuff tear, left shoulder (minor) due to insufficient opinions regarding whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder is currently rated at 40 percent, effective January 7, 2015. The right shoulder strain and tendinopathy associated with the right knee ACL-R s/p-R are currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's low back disability was caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable since April 1, 2015. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether his service-connected conditions make it impossible for him to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied reopening of service connection for an upper and low back disorder, frostbite of both feet, and PTSD. The skin disability was granted a 10% rating effective from April 29, 2014.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability, low back disability, and left knee disability. The claims are remanded to allow for further development including examinations.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for lumbar spine disorder, left foot disorder (heel spurs), functional impairment due to chest pain, acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression), headache disorder, right foot disorder, and sleep disorder. The appeal is granted on these issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection of various disabilities, including back disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left hand disability, and right hand disability, require further examination to determine their etiology. The initial compensable rating claim for hypertension is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further medical examinations. The issues include left elbow, back, TBI, headaches, neck, and left knee/leg conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, and thus grants entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence or conflicting opinions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is being remanded for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition and any flare-ups, as well as updated VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disorders due to new evidence submitted by his representative. The AOJ is instructed to obtain private treatment records, authorize VA to obtain any outstanding VA treatment records, and request printed copies of medical journal articles from the Veteran’s representative.