Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The claim of service connection for a back disability has been denied as new and material evidence was not presented. The increased rating for major depressive disorder and the TDIU claim are both remanded due to lack of recent VA examination.

The April 2009 rating decision denied reopening the issue of service connection for a back disability and PTSD. The Veteran's brother provided lay statements, but they were considered duplicative of previous evidence. Service records did not corroborate the in-service stressor reported by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations to determine the severity of his lumbar degenerative disc disorder. The other issues remain denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a low back disability and asthma due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's current disabilities are being evaluated again with additional evidence requested.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability and bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions. The Board also found no chronicity of the disabilities since separation from active duty.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for middle back disability, heart murmur (palpitations), and bleeding ulcer (stomach ulcer) due to outstanding service treatment records that need to be obtained.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine disorder, left lower extremity radiculopathy with restless leg syndrome, lumbar degenerative disc disease, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and unemployability benefits due to service-connected disabilities. Further development is needed including obtaining medical records, examining the appellant's cervical spine condition, and evaluating his bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and lumbar degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional records from Social Security Administration.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection were dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals.,No new and material evidence was received to reopen any of the previously denied claims.

The Veteran's back disability is remanded for additional development, including obtaining a retrospective opinion regarding prior VA examinations and another examination during a flare-up. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to its inextricability with the increased rating claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative joint disease of the cervical and lumbar spines have been denied as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back and left knee disorders. The claim for a low back disorder is denied as there is no evidence linking the current condition to service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 40 percent from June 30, 2016. The Board denied higher initial ratings for this condition.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease with foraminal narrowing of the thoracolumbar spine is rated at 40 percent since December 1, 2008. The right lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 40 percent and left lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 20 percent since October 1, 2013.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations regarding his bilateral foot disability, low back disability, and sciatica claims. The hearing loss claim has been denied.

The Veteran's disability evaluation for mechanical low back pain was restored to 20% effective January 1, 2014 after it had been reduced to noncompensable in October 2013. The evidence did not show a sustained improvement from the time of the initial grant of service connection in November 2007.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disorders are rated at 30% and 20%, respectively, effective September 13, 2018.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, sacroiliitis, and bilateral hearing loss due to potential errors in the original claim or insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the evidence does not support a link between current back problems and in-service symptomatology.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate or incomplete examination reports and because there is evidence of a relationship between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service.