Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disorder is related to her in-service injury and grants service connection for a back disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for higher ratings for right and left knee osteoarthritis, as well as the TDIU claim due to service-connected lumbar spine and bilateral knee disabilities. Additional VA examinations are needed to assess the severity of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's residuals of a left shoulder injury, residuals of a left elbow injury, and residuals of a lumbar spine injury. The evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these disabilities had their onset in service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back and left knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence, including a lack of medical records from his military service. The Veteran needs an examination to determine if he incurred these conditions during his active duty.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is being remanded due to procedural issues and need for further medical examination.

The Board denied service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability and remanded the issues of PTSD rating and sleep disorder. The decision on these issues is pending.

Service connection for a left leg disability is granted. Service connection for a right hip disability, to include as secondary to service-connected low back disability, and tinnitus (to include as secondary to service-connected coronary artery disease or hypertension) are remanded.

The Board granted an increased rating of 20 percent for right upper extremity radiculopathy as of July 20, 2015. The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded to the Director, Compensation Service, for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, and left ankle disability. The Board found that these disabilities are related to the Veteran's in-service parachute jumps.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability necessitates the use of a left knee brace, which causes wear and tear on his pants. The Board finds that an annual VA clothing allowance for the year 2015 is granted due to this condition.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of February 24, 2003 for the awards of service connection for degenerative joint disease, left knee patellofemoral syndrome; mild degenerative joint disease, right knee chondromalacia patella; and thoracolumbar strain.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including the total knee arthroplasty with residual pain and weakness, is granted as service-connected. The issues of arthritis in all joints (excluding left shoulder and right knee), low back disability, and acquired psychiatric disability are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 10 percent prior to April 12, 2012 and at 20 percent thereafter. The rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is also 20 percent.,An effective date earlier than March 15, 2016 for the grant of service connection for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity was denied.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, finding clear and unmistakable evidence that the Veteran's pre-existing back condition existed prior to his active duty and was not aggravated by service.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea but has remanded the issues of right shoulder disorder, low back disorder, and bilateral ankle disorders due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a left shoulder disability, as well as increased ratings for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities due to insufficient examination findings.

The Veteran's back disability, which includes a compression fracture at T-9 with multiple degenerative discs, is currently rated as 20 percent disabling. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating and denied the claim for a higher rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is related to his active military service.

The Board has referred the Veteran's claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disability, hemorrhoids, and a skin disorder to the RO for further consideration. The Veteran's claim for warts is denied as there is no current evidence of the claimed condition.