Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board has decided to remand the case for further evaluation due to lack of recent VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability, bilateral knee disability, and acquired psychiatric disability due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral knee disability on the basis of secondary aggravation. The TDIU claim is also granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a genitourinary disability and for a compensable rating for chronic bronchitis. The lumbar spine disability remains at 10 percent, while migraine headaches remain at 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for a cervical spine disorder, low back disability, and traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's claims are not currently substantiated as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, and right lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to inadequate examination reports and missing medical records.

The appeal for service connection for bipolar disorder claimed as memory loss is dismissed. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, cataracts of both eyes, obstructive sleep apnea with CPAP (claimed as sleep apnea), arthritis of knees, bilateral, arthritis of shoulders, bilateral, DDD at C4-5, C5-6, and C6-7, spondylosis with foraminal impingement at C5-6 and C6-7, claimed as arthritis of the neck, right shoulder tendonitis, tendonitis of both wrists, and spurs in fingers of both hands is dismissed.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40% effective June 26, 2016. His right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are each rated at 20%. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence on file regarding the etiology of the veteran's low back disability, including degenerative disc disease. The case is being sent back for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and chronic thoracolumbar strain as they require further examination to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine and right knee disabilities have been reopened, with the Board finding that new and material evidence has been received to support these claims.,Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's combat exposure during active duty in Vietnam is accepted as sufficient proof of in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral shin splints, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain due to new evidence and need for further examination. The TDIU and DEA benefits claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and temporary total evaluation due to treatment for a service-connected disability are being remanded for further action.

The Veteran's appeal of the initial disability ratings for tinnitus, PTSD with major depressive disorder prior to March 7, 2016, lumbar arthritis, left lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, and left ear hearing loss has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal for tinnitus. The remaining issues are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, with a rating of 20% for residuals from a right ankle fracture. The low back condition, right leg strain, posttraumatic residual degenerative joint disease of the right hip, and cyst of maxillary sinus are all found to be secondary to his service-connected right ankle condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including low back injury, bilateral hip injuries, and knee disorder. The claim for respiratory disorder due to in-service asbestos exposure was remanded.

The Veteran's initial rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) was granted at a 60% level, but not greater. The appeal is remanded for further evaluation of cervical spine and low back disabilities, COPD, sleep apnea, and hypertension.,An earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for hypertension is also being remanded due to new evidence.

The Board dismissed the appeal of the claim for service connection for fibromyalgia as the Veteran withdrew her appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inaccurate opinion and missing records, requiring a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current back disorder is related to his service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for borderline personality disorder is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the prior diagnoses from early in the appeal period.,The Veteran's appeal for increased evaluations of his lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy is remanded because retrospective medical opinions are needed for the entire appeal period.