Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The claim for service connection for a low back disability remains denied as new and material evidence has not been received. The claim for service connection for hypertension is reopened but remanded for further development, including an examination to determine the etiology of the condition. The claim for service connection for insomnia remains denied.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension. However, the appeal is still pending as a VA examination is required to assess the current severity of the Veteran's headaches.

The Veteran's hypothyroidism, left ankle sprain, and chronic lumbosacral strain have been rated as 60 percent disabling. The Board has granted a disability rating of 60 percent for the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and assessments of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a VA examination to assess his degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and for consideration of his TDIU claim due to inextricably intertwined issues.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for a right knee disorder, and entitlement to increased ratings for DDD of the lumbosacral spine and GERD.

The Board has granted service connection for fibromyalgia and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and insomnia) on secondary basis to service-connected fibromyalgia. Service connection is also granted for bilateral shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, bilateral hip disabilities (bursitis and limitation of abduction), and lumbar spine disability.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's cervical and thoracic spine disabilities need further evaluation due to a lack of recent VA treatment records and an outdated examination.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the Veteran's allegation of increased severity since previous examinations and for issues related to a compensable rating for scalp lacerations and service connection for a left shoulder disorder.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his degenerative disk disease of the lumbar spine and cervical spine have been denied. The evidence does not support a higher rating in either case.,The Veteran has reported constant back pain, but the medical records do not show ankylosis or incapacitating episodes that would warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for an annual clothing allowance is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the impact of her service-connected conditions on her clothing. The AOJ must gather more information and provide a certification as to whether her use of braces causes wear and tear on her clothes.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a right wrist disorder, back disorder, right ankle disorder, and allergic skin condition due to outstanding service treatment records that may corroborate the Veteran's reports.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence or procedural issues. The hearing loss and dermatitis cases are still under review, as is the right knee disorder, asbestosis, sleep apnea, and lumbar spine disorder.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeals for various disability ratings and service connection claims, including those related to right ear hearing loss, a right ring-finger disability, low back disability, right knee disability, right foot disability, left foot disability, and acute retinal necrosis of the left eye.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including a new VA examination for the kidney disorder and additional examinations for other service-connected conditions. The Veteran's claims of increased ratings are also being considered.

The Board dismissed the appeal of the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development due to incomplete service treatment records, specifically those from Fort Gordon where he was injured in October 1988.

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, right knee condition, hypertension, and heart condition (coronary artery disease) as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before a decision on the merits may be made regarding the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected lumbosacral spondylolisthesis with sciatic nerve involvement and IVDS, and service-connected sciatica. The Veteran was last provided a VA examination relating to his conditions in July 2015, over three years ago. A new VA examination is required so that the current nature and severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities may be determined.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased evaluations for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and bronchitis, as the Veteran withdrew his appeal. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to new evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for thoracic strain, degenerative disc disease of cervical spine, left ankle strain, and left knee patellar femoral pain syndrome as there is no evidence to support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.