Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected back disability was granted a 20 percent rating from May 1, 2017. The previous 10 percent rating was restored effective May 1, 2017.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. Service connection is remanded for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) and a lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's back, left and right knee disabilities were denied as service connection because the evidence did not establish a relationship to his military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including chronic myositis of the paralumbar spine muscles, cervical spine with pain radiating to the lower extremities, sleep apnea, hypertension, cardiac arrhythmia, diabetes mellitus type II, subdural hematomas, headaches, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating due to insufficient medical opinions regarding his lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy, and right ankle disability. The issues are currently pending further development.

The Veteran's low back strain is now rated at 20 percent effective December 5, 2016. Her left and right knee disabilities remain at 10 percent each.

The Board denied service connection for a neck disability and denied entitlement to an increased rating for DDD of the lumbosacral spine.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity was rated at 20 percent effective August 29, 2013.

The petition to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The claims for prostate cancer, kidney disability, and seizure disorder are denied. A 30 percent rating is granted for headaches from March 16, 2009 to April 23, 2015.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's low back disability, bilateral lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy affecting the sciatic nerve, left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy affecting the femoral nerve, and right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy affecting the femoral nerve. The eye scar disability has also been granted a separate 10 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a left wrist disability, increased ratings for right and left knee disabilities, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's claims are pending further development.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for scars. The remaining issues have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, finding that there is a continuity of symptomatology since service and granting it as a direct service connection.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, effective from the date of this decision. For the period from March 1, 2014 to January 24, 2018, his right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are each rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person, leading to a grant of SMC. The issue of rating for recurrent lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease is remanded due to evidence suggesting worsening.

The service connection claims for a lumbar spine disability and sleep apnea are reopened. Service connection for CAD due to herbicide exposure is granted.,Service connection for hypertension secondary to diabetes, CAD, or both is remanded for further examination and opinion.,Increased ratings for left and right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy are remanded for a VA examination.,Service connection for a lumbar spine disability as secondary to service-connected left ankle disability is remanded for a nexus opinion.,The Veteran's hypertension claim remains pending due to insufficient evidence.,The Veteran's sleep apnea claim remains pending due to insufficient evidence.,The Veteran's back disability claim remains pending due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for low back disability and left knee disability, but denied both claims as there is no evidence of a nexus between these disabilities and active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as clarification of his Gulf War service. The issues include multiple musculoskeletal and psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.

The Board denied service connection for right heel contusion, left heel contusion, lumbar stenosis, right hip arthritis, and left hip arthritis. The evidence did not support a current disability or link to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluation of various disabilities due to incomplete or insufficient evidence, including lack of recent VA examinations.