Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected, while his left ear hearing loss and right knee disability are denied. The Board has also remanded the cases for further development.,Service connection for a lower back disability and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, dermatitis, a lumbar spine disorder, sciatica of the left lower extremity, and sciatica of the right lower extremity due to inextricably intertwined issues.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a back disability and tinnitus have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claims for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy and an effective date earlier than August 5, 2014, for the grant of service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded.,The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to August 5, 2014, is also being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's employability.

The Board has denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD and remanded the cases regarding lumbar myofascial strain syndrome with radicular symptoms and total disability rating for individual unemployability prior to April 4, 2011.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed disabilities, particularly those related to a motor vehicle accident during service. The Veteran is required to provide records of any treatment he received since service and undergo VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his current disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on his low back disability, testicular pain and erectile dysfunction, and lower extremity radiculopathy have been dismissed as he has withdrawn them.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left knee ligament tear and left leg numbness have been denied. The claim for a higher rating for lumbar strain has also been denied, but the Veteran is now receiving a 30 percent rating for irritable bowel syndrome.,Service connection was not granted as there is no evidence of current disability related to service or secondary to service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's back disorder, including his service treatment records and a private medical opinion. The examiner is asked to provide an updated etiological opinion considering all relevant factors.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, is service-connected due to continuity of symptoms since his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of VA attempts to obtain relevant SSA and private medical records, including from the University of MS Medical Center. The Veteran is asked to provide authorization for VA to obtain these records.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability as secondary to the service-connected left ankle disability.

The Veteran's PTSD claim is reopened and service connection for PTSD is granted.,The psychiatric disability other than PTSD, including bipolar disorder, OCD, and ADHD, claim is reopened. Service connection for these conditions remains remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's low back disability is related to service and, if so, whether it is aggravated by his service-connected low back disability. The bilateral hip disability claim is also deferred until the low back disability claim is resolved.

The Veteran's lumbar spondylosis resulted in a flexion of 45 degrees and a combined range of motion of 70 degrees, with no ankylosis. The claim for higher ratings was denied.,For cervical degenerative disc disease, the Veteran had a flexion of 20 degrees and a combined range of motion of 135 degrees, also without ankylosis. The claim for higher ratings was denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back degenerative disc disease, deep vein thrombosis of the legs, type 2 diabetes mellitus, brain tumor with scar, and skin disability. The claims are being remanded due to procedural errors and the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and lumbosacral spine disabilities, rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment beginning April 7, 2012.

All claims seeking to reopen previously denied service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran was awarded a 60% rating for his degenerative disc disease of the thoracic and lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome also claimed as neuro foraminal stenosis, effective August 23, 2012. The Board found that this date marked the earliest ascertainable increase in disability.