Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there is not enough evidence to support a link between his current condition and an in-service injury or event.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, including paravertebral lumbar myositis and spondylosis of the lower lumbar spine, is remanded. The claim for service connection for adjustment disorder with depressed mood (claimed as major depression) is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is denied as there is no current diagnosis of such a condition. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine is also denied due to lack of evidence showing limitation of motion or ankylosis that would warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for lumbosacral strain is being remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion from the VA examiner who conducted the January 5, 2018 examination.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal, and the Board dismissed it due to lack of allegations of errors of fact or law for appellate consideration.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted with an effective date of December 6, 2010. The Board found that the Veteran was unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities as of this date.

The Veteran's BPH is granted staged ratings, with a 20% rating prior to May 23, 2018 and a 40% rating from that date. The appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and the rating for low back disability are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The Veteran's lumbar spine condition may be related to his service-connected inguinal herniorrhaphy, but this needs to be confirmed with a VA examination. For multiple sclerosis, the Veteran must provide an authorization for records from his private physician Dr. Nuchovich.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his assertions of secondary service connection. The VA will schedule examinations and obtain additional medical records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected PTSD and back disability was denied. The Veteran also had claims for higher ratings for his lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy which were all denied.

Your claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain additional records from your National Guard service and private treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 70 percent effective from November 17, 2016.,Service connection for lumbar and cervical spine arthritis has been granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations. The issues of service connection for various disabilities remain unresolved.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and right shoulder disability. The disabilities are found to be directly related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for clothing allowances due to service-connected knee and back braces, as well as skin cream, are denied because the evidence does not show that these items tend to wear out or tear his clothes or cause irreparable damage.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for GERD, headaches, and lumbosacral spine disability were denied. The petition to reopen the claim for service connection for prostate cancer was granted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, but denied service connection for his left shoulder DJD and right hip strain.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and an effective date prior to August 16, 2006 for the grant of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).,Service connection was granted for sebaceous cysts of the low back and head but the matter is remanded due to lack of clarity on whether these are separate from existing conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn his appeals.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities cause him to be in need of regular aid and attendance, which is granted.