Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for his lumbar spine disability is denied as there is no ankylosis of the spine, and the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disorder, neck disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active service.,The VA examinations and medical opinions provided clear reasoning against the Veteran’s assertions of service connection.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with anxiety and panic attacks is found to be secondary to his service-connected peripheral vascular disease of the lower extremities. Service connection for emboli to both lungs, post-phlebitic syndrome with peripheral vascular disease of the left and right lower extremities, and heart condition (cardiomegaly) are all granted. The Veteran's back disability and sleep apnea claims remain denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were dismissed due to his request to withdraw from appeal, and the RO confirmed previous decisions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability, neurological disorders of upper and lower extremities due to new evidence submitted during the appeal process.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and requests for examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a low back condition, sciatica (secondary to low back condition), and sleep apnea. The claim for service connection for keloids of the left shoulder is also remanded.

The Board has determined that additional evidence was obtained after the most recent statement of the case and a new VA examination is needed due to increased severity of service-connected tension headaches. The claims for an initial compensable rating for tension headaches and TDIU are being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. Service connection was also granted for back disorder, but a remand is required due to inadequate examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for low back disability, left knee disability, hypertension, seizure disability, and TDIU due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need to address the issue of service connection for hypertension in an SSOC.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and muscle spasms of the cervical spine, as these conditions are claimed to be secondary to service-connected temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). The VA examiner is asked to provide an addendum opinion addressing the nature and etiology of the Veteran's cervical spine disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease has been denied. The Board also remanded several other claims related to service connection.

The Veteran's lumbosacral dual level discogenic disease and right lower extremity radiculopathy are granted as service connected.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and lung disability (including pneumonia, bronchitis, shortness of breath) have been granted. The decision also addressed the reopening of these previously denied claims.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease with spondylosis of the lumbar spine and right lumbosacral radiculopathy, finding that these conditions are etiologically related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, head injury, cervical spine disability, left upper extremity radiculopathy, lumbar and thoracic spine disabilities, gastrointestinal problems (gastritis and GERD), bronchitis, essential benign tremor, and bladder dysfunction. The decision found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of evidence of a current disability or a link between his in-service exposure and any diagnosed conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability and remanded it due to new evidence. The psychiatric disability is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the back disability.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for a back condition was dismissed. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for sleep apnea and gastrointestinal disorder (IBS).

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the low back and a right shoulder condition, finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination and opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's back disability and her service-connected asthma, as well as the need for additional treatment records.