Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's most recent VA examinations are outdated and remands for new evaluations to determine current disability levels.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease, a brain injury including occipital infarct, and an increased rating for left radial head fracture due to incomplete development of evidence.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for chronic low back strain, entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for left hip snapping syndrome, and the propriety of the separately assigned rating for left hip snapping syndrome. As such, these issues are dismissed.

The Veteran's low back disability, including degenerative disc disease (DDD), is currently rated at 40 percent. The Board has decided to remand the case for a new examination and additional private treatment records.

The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy and lumbar spine with L4-S3 sided disc protrusion are currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a back injury, finding that the Veteran's current back problems are not attributable to his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the service connection claim for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, resulting in a total disability rating based on unemployability.

The Board has determined that the existing record does not include a VA examination providing results in accordance with Sharp v. Shulkin, 29 Vet. App. 26 (2017). Therefore, the claims for higher rating and TDIU are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder as it did not find evidence of an in-service injury or disease, and the current condition is not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, back disability, and bilateral flatfoot have been reopened due to new evidence received.,Service connection has not been granted for psoriasis.

The Veteran's cervical spine DDD and lumbar spine DJD are granted as service connected. The Veteran is also granted an initial evaluation of 50 percent for his PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder because there was no evidence of a chronic disability in service or within one year after service, and the weight of the evidence did not support a finding that the current condition is related to service.

The Veteran's cervical degenerative disc disease status post C6-C7 fusion with radiculopathy is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's traumatic brain injury (TBI) is granted as service-connected.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of a lumbar spine condition due to insufficient documentation and an inadequate VA examination. The case will be returned for further development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to new evidence being added since the last decision. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered by the Regional Office (RO).

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected left lower extremity radiculopathy and low back disability due to lack of updated VA treatment records and need for a new examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine disability, bilateral hip disability, and skin cancer as they require further development due to incomplete medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for a lumbar spine disability was denied as the evidence did not show that the condition warranted a higher rating.