Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board denied an increased disability rating for the Veteran's low back disability, but did not address a claim for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to June 10, 2011.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and review, including consideration of an earlier effective date for a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the Board finds that her symptoms are not related to military service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is denied because the Veteran does not have a current disability. The Board notes that she did sustain acoustic trauma during active service, but this alone is not sufficient to establish service connection.,The Veteran's claim for PTSD due to MST is remanded as new evidence requires a review of her psychiatric symptoms under DSM-5 criteria.,Service connection for back disability is remanded as the VA examiner’s opinion was inadequate and did not consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding the onset and continuity of her back disability.,The Veteran's claim for sleep disorder, to include sleep apnea, is remanded as no sleep study has been performed to diagnose sleep apnea. The Board also notes that more information is needed about the status of her ovaries.,Service connection for sinusitis is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the VA examiner’s opinion was inadequate.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for major depressive disorder is remanded due to new information indicating worsening symptoms.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for salpingo-oophoritis with removal of right ovary is remanded as more information about the status of her ovaries is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and a need for further medical evaluation.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in prior rating decisions are being remanded due to the Board lacking jurisdiction to adjudicate these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus, but denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder.,Service connection was not established for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability or his acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability and granted an initial 50 percent rating for bilateral pes planus. The remaining issues of service connection for residuals of head injury/TBI, hallux valgus of the right foot, hallux valgus of the left foot, and TDIU are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that there was no in-service onset or causation of his current condition and that any present disability is not related to service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for updated VA records and a new examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's right inguinal hernia and low back disability.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is claimed to be related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. However, the claim for a lumbar spine disability has not yet been decided. The Board finds that these claims are inextricably intertwined and cannot be decided separately.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability has been reopened and granted. The Board also found that the Veteran's back disability is related to his left knee disability, which was established as direct service connection.

The Veteran's right shoulder scar was initially denied a compensable rating prior to August 2, 2017. A 10 percent rating is granted beginning on that date.,Service connection for heart disorder and bilateral wrist disorders are remanded due to outstanding records.,Right shoulder disability and cervical spine disability ratings are remanded as the Veteran's symptoms have worsened since his last examination in 2014.,Lumbar spine disability rating is remanded as the Veteran's range of motion has worsened since his last VA examination in 2014.,Bilateral foot disabilities and PFB of the face and upper neck are remanded due to outstanding treatment records. Migraine headaches are also remanded for a new examination.,,,

The Board denied service connection for traumatic brain injury or residuals thereof, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral hip disability, low back disability, neck disability, and sleep disorder.,The Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of any of these conditions at the time of the decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claims. The right knee, left knee, low back, and bilateral foot disorders were all found not to be related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete information and need for additional medical opinions. The Veteran's low back disability is currently characterized as status post lumbar fusion and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, but there are questions about its relationship to service.

The Veteran's claim for a low back disability was reopened and granted, while the claims for left knee disability, chronic fatigue syndrome, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and headaches were denied.,PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for a low back condition due to conflicting medical opinions and lack of in-service records.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to new evidence indicating worsening of his disabilities since the last examinations in December 2010.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine disability and PTSD, as well as his TDIU claim due to inextricably intertwined issues. The Veteran will be scheduled for VA examinations to assess the severity of his conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current low back disability is related to his service, including a helicopter incident in Vietnam.