Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, and his PTSD with depressive disorder is rated at 50 percent. The Veteran was granted a TDIU on a schedular basis.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, osteopenia, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, cognitive disorder, and/or depression) due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar spine disability, and diabetes mellitus, Type II due to conflicting evidence regarding current diagnoses and lack of definitive medical nexus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia and degenerative disc disease (claimed as low back condition) due to a lack of VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability is granted, and the case is remanded to obtain an adequate nexus opinion.

The Board has dismissed all the Veteran's claims as they are now moot due to his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's September 2013 Notice of Disagreement was timely and addresses his dissatisfaction with the rating assigned for his service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability, including associated right and left foot weakness. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for right foot weakness and left foot weakness are still in appellate status due to the RO not issuing an SOC.

The Board has denied service connection for sinusitis and remanded the issues of service connection for hyposmia, hypogeusia, bronchitis, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), back disorder, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of his low back condition as secondary to his right knee disability, finding that there was no link between the two conditions.

The Board denied service connection for decreased visual acuity, diabetic retinopathy, as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for a back disorder and a neck disorder, both secondary to service-connected right ankle and foot disability, and an increased evaluation for intertrigo of the groin and scrotum.

The Veteran's claim for an annual clothing allowance is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records. The issue will be reconsidered with consideration of whether two separate allowances can be granted, as well as determining if the Veteran's braces cause wear or tear on her clothing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there was no evidence of a relationship between her current condition and her in-service injury. The Board also noted that arthritis did not manifest within one year following discharge.

The Board has reopened the claims for diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, lumbar spine degenerative disk disease, and left and right knee arthritis. The evidence is sufficient to establish service connection for these conditions.,Service connection was denied for prostate cancer due to lack of a nexus between the condition and exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's ability to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to April 22, 2013. The Veteran needs to provide IRS tax returns from 2006 through 2013 and any relevant documents related to her law suit with TVA.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional examinations and records due to incomplete information.

The Board denied service connection for a neck disability, low back disability, and right knee disability as the evidence did not show these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.,There is no indication of any current disabilities related to military service.

The appeal for service connection of a left leg disorder is dismissed. The appeals to reopen claims for right leg disorder with nerve damage and back disorder are granted.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine spondylolisthesis disability is being remanded for further examination to determine its severity.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination regarding the severity of the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine strain, including during flare-ups. The Veteran will be scheduled for a new VA examination.