Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's cervical, lumbosacral, left shoulder and right shoulder disabilities have worsened since her last VA examinations in February 2012. The Veteran is also seeking a TDIU based on these service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for right foot plantar fasciitis, right ankle disorder, bilateral knee disorder, benign prostatic hyperplasia and hypertension, acquired psychiatric disorder, erectile dysfunction (ED), left foot plantar fasciitis, bilateral onychomycosis, eye disorder, left ankle disorder, back disorder, and tinnitus have all been denied. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's back disability, as there is no evidence of a VA examination prior to the March 2018 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including a new VA examination with a neurosurgeon or neurologist. The issues of service connection for cervical disorder, bilateral upper extremity disorder (neuropathy), and fecal and urinary incontinence secondary to back disability are referred for adjudication.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and radiculopathy of both lower extremities are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was denied. A 20 percent disability rating has been granted effective July 7, 2014.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the Veteran's lumbosacral strain. The claim will be reviewed again with additional development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is related to his service, specifically an injury during Vietnam. The appeal will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities were found to meet the criteria for a combined disability rating greater than 80 percent from July 29, 1997, to August 9, 2001, and greater than 90 percent from August 9, 2001, to June 27, 2002. The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to March 13, 2007.

The Veteran's hepatitis C has been granted a 100% disability rating effective April 25, 2005. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for GERD as secondary to service-connected disabilities and entitlement to an increased rating for lumbosacral strain prior to July 5, 2017.

The Board has decided to remand this case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination of the Veteran's lumbar spine and requesting an opinion on whether his current disability is related to service.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 20% and his cervical spine degenerative disc disease claim is remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new examination of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and right and left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased rating for PTSD, as well as his request for TDIU. The appeal of service connection for bilateral shin splints is also dismissed.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a back disability and granted service connection for an unspecified depressive disorder. The heart condition issue is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus was granted with an effective date of December 15, 1988. The appeal regarding the initial rating for chronic lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions in a previous VA examination and needs additional information from an examiner.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, and his right and left lower extremity radiculopathies are each rated at 10 percent. The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, including degenerative disc disease (DDD), finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for service connection awards of neck, left hip, and back disabilities. The right shoulder disability award had an effective date of September 29, 2011.