Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various disabilities, including a right shoulder disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and low back disability have been dismissed as withdrawn. The appeal for non-service-connected pension benefits has also been dismissed.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD and a left shoulder condition. The Veteran's claims for erectile dysfunction, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and right forearm injury are remanded for further examination and analysis.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss was denied. For the period prior to January 21, 2016, his back disability received an initial rating in excess of 10 percent. From January 21, 2016 forward, he received a 20 percent rating for his back disability. He also received separate ratings for left lower extremity radiculopathy and PTSD. The Veteran's TBI claim was denied.

The Veteran is in need of regular aid and attendance due to her service-connected disabilities, including hypothyroidism with bradycardia, depression with a mood disorder, thoracolumbar spine strain with ankylosing spondylitis, and other conditions. The Board has determined that she meets the criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depression, heart disease, and a back scar from a shell fragment wound, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability and associated right lower extremity radiculopathy, as further development is required.

Service connection for sleep apnea and diabetes mellitus is denied.,A rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected migraine headaches is denied, with the reduction from 30 percent to 10 percent being improper and the 30 percent rating restored.,The effective date for service-connected lumbar spine disability remains October 16, 2014.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination reports and the need for additional medical records. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after further development.

The Board has granted service connection for a left leg disability and a back disability (including as secondary to the service-connected left leg disability). Service connection for a bilateral knee condition is denied.

The Veteran's claims for left wrist, low back, and right knee disabilities have been denied. A separate rating of 10% has been granted for the portion of his service-connected right knee disability manifested by slight instability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for bilateral knee disability, finding new and material evidence. The claims for back disability and sleep apnea remain denied.,A VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran’s sleep apnea was caused by or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability characterized as degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) with lower left extremity radiculopathy, and spondylolisthesis. The appeal regarding bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine injury with degenerative joint disease and S1 radiculopathy of the left lower extremity are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for all claims related to pes planus, lumbar stenosis, tinnitus, and other service-connected conditions. The appeals are dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including a right-hand disorder, liver condition (including alcoholic hepatitis), low back disorder, neck disorder, and left-hand disorder. The appeals were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations. The Veteran's service connection claims are pending.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine due to new and material evidence. However, the issue is remanded as there are conflicting medical opinions regarding whether the current condition is related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD and related disabilities have been granted a 70% disability rating, TDIU status, and special monthly compensation based on housebound status.

The Board has granted service connection for loss of use of both lower extremities due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, effective from June 2018. The appeal for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of extremities is also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent her from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to February 9, 2015.