Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including VA examinations and a review of his service records to determine if he experienced in-service stressors.

The Board has granted service connection for TBI, but the issues of tinnitus and sleep apnea as secondary to TBI, cervical spine disability, and lumbosacral spine disability remain unresolved due to need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease with bulging disc of the lumbar spine was not caused by, aggravated by, or otherwise etiologically related to an event, disease, or injury in service.,Bilateral hearing loss was not caused by service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of service separation.,The Veteran's joint pain is not caused by or otherwise etiologically related to his military service, including as due to an undiagnosed illness.,The Veteran does not have current diagnoses of chronic fatigue syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea, or a chronic respiratory condition, to include as due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's back disability and bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the remaining issues due to incomplete records. The Veteran's claims for arthritis, vertigo, hemorrhoids, anemia, psoriasis, and a skin condition are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for her lumbar spine disability is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and the provision of outstanding medical records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding service connection for psychiatric disorders and incomplete VA treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, and bilateral knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service or any service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and higher ratings for hypertensive cardiovascular disease, emphysema, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, cerebral aneurysm, and hypertension. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Board denied service connection for a left-hand fracture and clostridium difficile infection, finding no credible evidence of in-service injury or disease. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was also denied an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.,The Veteran’s lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar and cervical strain disabilities are related to his period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and have granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection and rating for various conditions, including left knee disorder to include degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine disorder, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, left Achilles tendon disorder, psychiatric disorder, hypertension, sleep disorder, headache disorder, and tinnitus. Additional relevant service treatment records have been received.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient verification of the Veteran's periods of active duty and Reserve service, as well as incomplete VA treatment records. The Veteran is asked to provide additional information about her service and for VA to obtain relevant medical records.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including whether it is related to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his back disability is being remanded due to the need for further evidence and an updated VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a low back disability, skin condition (claimed as a skin rash), and PTSD due to incomplete records and unverified stressors.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claims for service connection for a low back condition and right knee condition. The claim for an initial compensable evaluation for allergic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder and left hip disorder are directly related to service or aggravated by service-connected conditions. The VA needs to obtain treatment records, schedule an examination, and provide a thorough opinion on these issues.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various conditions due to a lack of new and material evidence. The Veteran must submit additional evidence to reopen these claims.,A TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the service connection claims.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis of the spine and intervertebral disc syndrome with right lower extremity radiculopathy. The other claims were denied.