Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. The claim for an increased rating for the left knee prior to November 2, 2012, and from January 1, 2014, is remanded. The TDIU issue is also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, secondary to service-connected DDD of the cervical spine, is rated at 40 percent. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity (femoral nerve), also secondary to service-connected DDD of the lumbosacral spine, is rated at 30 percent.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar back disability and a left ankle disability, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease that led to the current disabilities.

The Veteran's diplopia is granted as a symptom of her service-connected migraine headaches. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds no evidence to warrant a higher rating based on current functional limitations.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds no evidence to warrant a higher rating based on current functional limitations.,The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds no evidence to warrant a higher rating based on current functional limitations.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations for the Veteran's low back disability are inadequate and remands the case to schedule a new examination. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to its inextricability with the rating issue.

The claim of service connection for IBS is reopened and the claims for thoracolumbar spine disorder are remanded. The issue of aggravation of service-connected GERD and gastritis by IBS is also remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar disability is caused by his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for an addendum VA medical opinion to assess the severity of the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities prior to August 23, 2011.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and requests for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent before July 20, 2016 and 20 percent from July 20, 2016.

The Veteran's low back disability and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity are currently rated at 40% and 20%, respectively. The Board denied higher ratings for both conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD, a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar spine disability, an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy, an extraschedular rating for migraine headaches, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The remand also includes requests for additional VA treatment records and a PTSD examination.

The Veteran's back disability was rated at 10% from March 1, 2010 to February 10, 2012. From February 10, 2012, the rating was increased to 20%. The TDIU claim is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine, left knee, and right knee conditions due to lack of medical nexus opinions addressing his in-service exposure.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a respiratory disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions did not manifest during or as a result of his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder disability, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy are all denied. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating for her migraine headaches.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU for periods from September 1, 2014 through April 21, 2015, and from June 1, 2015 to January 31, 2016 due to her service-connected disabilities making it impossible for the average person to follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,Service connection for colon cancer is denied as there is no evidence of its onset during service or due to any in-service exposure.,Service connection for sleep apnea is denied as it did not begin during service and there is no evidence linking it to service, including Agent Orange exposure.,The Veteran's skin disease is presumed to be caused by his service in Vietnam, but the evidence does not support a finding that it began during service or was otherwise caused by such service.,Service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy is denied as there is no evidence linking it to service, including Agent Orange exposure. The condition did not manifest within one year of presumed exposure.,The Veteran's back disability is not linked to his service and the evidence does not support a finding that it began during service or was otherwise caused by such service.,Service connection for a mental disorder is denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.