Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted service connection. The right shoulder and back disabilities are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of sinusitis, depressive disorder, right knee chondromalacia patella, and left lower extremity chronic lumbosacral strain/sprain with sciatica are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has remanded two issues: entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for cervical strain and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The reasons are that the most recent VA examinations were almost seven years ago, and the disabilities have worsened since then.

The Board has reopened the claim and granted service connection for a low back disability as secondary to a service-connected left leg disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not caused by his already-service connected left leg disability.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions alone do not necessitate the need for regular aid and attendance of another person on a daily basis.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was granted a rating of 20 percent effective May 20, 2014.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and reduction of disability ratings due to inadequate examinations, new evidence not considered by the RO, and issues related to TDIU.

Service connection is granted for a right hip disability, amputation of the second, third, and fourth fingers of the left hand, low back disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) as secondary to service-connected right knee disability.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches and OSA, but has remanded the cases of Bell's palsy, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, lumbar strain, and PTSD with major depressive episode (PTSD).

The Veteran's DJD of the lumbar spine and left lower extremity radiculopathy are granted with a 20% rating effective May 17, 2007.

The Veteran's lumbar spondylosis and degenerative disc disease are granted service connection. The initial PTSD rating is granted prior to January 26, 2010 at a 70 percent level. Special monthly compensation for housebound status was granted from September 29, 2006 to June 30, 2009. TDIU was denied prior to July 1, 2009 and dismissed as moot due to the Veteran's maximum benefits at that time. A TDIU is denied from July 1, 2009 to January 25, 2010.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbosacral disability is remanded due to the need for additional development. The issue of service connection for lower extremity neurological disability related to his service-connected back disability has also been referred to the RO and needs to be resolved before final adjudication.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings on his claims of mood disorder with depressive features, lumbar strain (with lumbar spondylosis, spinal stenosis, and spondylolisthesis), right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death before a decision was made by the Board.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination report and need for a supplemental medical opinion.

The Veteran's initial ratings for depression, left shoulder labral repair, thoracolumbar spine strain, and right ankle disability are being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for the appellant's thoracolumbar disability, broken nose, facial scars, TBI residuals, and loss of teeth as they were not incurred in line of duty.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral knee and ankle disabilities, and a lumbosacral spine disability.,There is no evidence of a current mental disability, current knee or ankle disability, or compensable spinal disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and requests for additional opinions. The Veteran's lower back condition is being reviewed as a direct service connection claim.

The Board has granted service connection for fibromyalgia. The case was remanded for further development regarding the Veteran's right ankle, right knee, cervical spine, lumbar spine, and left elbow disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis B, but the issues of service connection for left leg disorder, back disorder, and right knee disorder are remanded.