Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's initial rating for degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder was granted at a 20 percent level, while his initial rating for DJD of the lumbar spine with grade I spondylolisthesis remains at a non-compensable level.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records, particularly from the Veteran's National Guard service and his active duty periods. The case will be returned after further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional examinations to determine the severity of the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine and bilateral knee disabilities, including any additional range of motion loss due to repetitive use over time and during flare-ups. The issues of higher staged disability ratings for these conditions are inextricably intertwined with the issue of entitlement to a TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection of a lower back disability, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD with depression, a headache disability, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine are granted. The claim for residuals of a cervical spine injury is reopened but denied due to lack of evidence showing current disability.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety and depression) and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active duty service. Service connection was denied for a back disorder, heart disorder, prostate cancer, and diabetes.

The Board previously denied service connection for a low back disability, but the Court granted a JMPR to remand this issue due to an error in not considering the presumption for combat veterans.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability, including degenerative disc disease and arthritis, is related to his in-service injury. As a result, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left knee disabilities, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability have been granted. However, the criteria for service connection were not met for cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination to assess his current left knee disability. The Board also requires a new examination to determine if his right hip, right knee, and low back disabilities are related to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has determined that there are outstanding records pertaining to the Veteran's claims and that further examination is needed to determine if his knee conditions, back condition, and psychiatric disorder are related to service.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of lumbar spine disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and an increased rating for esophagitis and recurrent left lower quadrant pain due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional development due to inadequate VA examinations and missing records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar strain, bilateral foot ganglion cysts, bilateral hip condition as secondary to a lumbar spine disability, and bilateral sacral radiculopathy. The decision found no new and material evidence to reopen any of these claims.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his active duty or National Guard service.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD and hypertension as secondary to PTSD. The claims for residuals of a back injury, kidney condition, nerve condition, and hearing loss are remanded.

The appeal for service connection of a cervical spine disability is REMANDED.,The appeals for service connection of bilateral foot and lumbar spine disabilities are GRANTED.,The appeal for service connection of basal cell carcinoma of the nose is GRANTED.

The Veteran's service-connected DJD of the thoracolumbar spine is granted a 20% evaluation prior to February 26, 2018. The issue of higher evaluations for radiculopathy of the LLE and RLE associated with DJD remains remanded.

The Board has denied increased ratings for the Veteran's right knee, left knee, and low back disabilities on an extraschedular basis. The case is being remanded to obtain a TDIU opinion addressing all of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

Your claims for service connection for a right shoulder disorder, right hand disorder, lumbar disorder, left-sided weakness, and left knee disorder have been dismissed.,Your previously denied claims of service connection for spina bifida occulta C6, C7 and TI and cervical spine disorder, as well as left-sided weakness and left knee disorder are now reopened.