Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and migraine headaches. The claims for service connection are not decided at this time.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and has granted service connection for this condition.

The application to reopen the claim for service connection of a cervical spine strain is granted. The claims for service connection of lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, as well as an acquired psychiatric disability are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional medical records to be obtained from the Martinsburg VAMC and VA treatment records from January 2016.

The Veteran's back surgery on March 28, 2014 required convalescence through September 30, 2014. The Board granted an extension of a temporary total evaluation through that date but the Veterans Service Center Manager must consider further extensions beyond six months.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a back disability has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board finds that further development is needed, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and arranging for an examination.

The Board has remanded the claim for TDIU on an extraschedular basis due to inadequate VA examinations and a lack of information regarding the Veteran's employment history. The case will be returned to the Board after additional development.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Board has found that the duty to assist in obtaining an updated VA examination attaches to ascertain the current severity of the Veteran’s service-connected back disability and radiculopathies. The case is being remanded for further action.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in a previous VA spine examination and for obtaining updated treatment records. The Veteran is scheduled for an examination to determine if his lumbosacral spine disability is related to active service.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar degenerative arthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, effective November 14, 2017. The Board denied a higher rating prior to that date and found no evidence of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes warranting a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and left knee disability due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for bilateral plantar fasciitis is denied. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for a thoracolumbar-sacral disorder (TLS) due to insufficient information regarding its relationship with her other conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as his service-connected disabilities meet the schedular criteria for assignment of a TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen service connection for a low back disability is granted. The claim for an increased rating for service-connected jaw disability is dismissed. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding that there was no evidence linking the condition to active military service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including low back disability, right knee disability, diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, fungal infections of the feet, migraine headaches, and a disability manifested by insomnia. The decision states that there is no evidence of exposure to herbicide agents during service and thus no presumption applies.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD, but this is denied.,Service connection for sleep apnea secondary to PTSD is granted.,Ratings in excess of 10 percent are remanded for patellofemoral syndrome of both knees and hypertension.,Ratings in excess of 20 percent are remanded for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and radiculopathy of both upper extremities.,TDIU is also remanded.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection of bilateral upper extremity diabetic neuropathy, but granted effective dates for left knee meniscectomy with degenerative joint disease and lumbar spine DDD. The initial rating for lumbar spine DDD was also granted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder due to conflicting medical opinions and inadequate VA examination. The case will be returned for further development.