Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has ordered the VA to attempt to obtain records from several private treatment providers previously identified by the Veteran. The claim for service connection for a low back condition is now remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including his stroke residuals and diabetes, necessitate regular aid and attendance due to his inability to perform daily activities.

The Board has remanded the case due to a pending claim of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for low back disability.

The Veteran's appeal for a right foot ulcer was dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal of this issue.,The claims for entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability and low back disability were denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has denied service connection for left shoulder, lumbar spine, headaches, and hypertension disabilities. The case is remanded to obtain an opinion on whether a right knee bony density is related to the Veteran's service-connected right knee degenerative joint disease.

The Board has granted service connection for other specified trauma- and stress-related disorder, but denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a neck disability and entitlement to TDIU due to insufficient examination findings regarding whether the Veteran's neck condition is related to his service-connected lumbar strain.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding service connection for a back disorder, vision impairment, and initial compensable evaluation for a scar on the anterior side of the trunk associated with prostate cancer. The appeal regarding whether a rating reduction for prostate cancer was proper is also dismissed. The appeal regarding an increased evaluation for headaches, residuals of TBI, and TDIU remains pending.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, thoracolumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and left knee disability.,There is no competent evidence linking the Veteran's current disabilities to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar degenerative disc disease has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities has also been denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disorders, including left foot, ankle, knee, hip, shoulder, neurological, arm, upper extremity neuropathy, right leg, neck, and back disorders. The RO is instructed to obtain in-service hospitalization records from 1976-1979 and provide an addendum opinion regarding the relationship of these disorders to service.

The Board has granted the reopening of the claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and denied the claims for service connection for a right elbow disorder and a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee instability.

The Board has remanded the claim for an increased rating for lumbar spine disability due to new evidence and a need to consider all submitted records.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating of lumbar degenerative disc disease has been granted. The claims for service connection, compensable evaluations for erectile dysfunction and hypertension, and TDIU have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected deviated nasal septum. The radiculopathy of the left lower extremity sciatic nerve remains at a 20% rating, but the Veteran's deviated nasal septum is restored to a 40% rating effective July 1, 2017.

Your claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to review additional VA treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but denied service connection for a low back disability. The psychiatric condition is linked to the Veteran's military service, while there is no evidence linking his current back disability to his time in active duty.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The issues of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for pes cavus with calcaneal spurs and TDIU are also remanded.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the Veteran's service-connected L5-S1 lumbar radiculopathy, right lower extremity, and L3-S1 radiculopathy, left lower extremity, as his disability did not meet the criteria for a 20% rating prior to April 26, 2012.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information and need for further medical opinions regarding service connection, TDIU, and cause of death. The Veteran's radiculopathy is presumed secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. Cause of death may be related to COPD or psychiatric disabilities.