Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the cause and aggravation of his condition during reserve training.

The Veteran's service-connected left ankle arthritis, right ankle arthritis, and chronic lumbar strain are being remanded for additional examinations to assess their current severity.

The appeal to reopen the claim for service connection for Meniere's disease is granted. The Veteran's low back disorder claim is remanded due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, hernia secondary to lumbar spondylolisthesis L5-S1 with spondylolysis, increased disability rating for lumbar spondylolisthesis L5-S1 with spondylolysis, and TDIU due to incomplete development of the claims.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of right knee and back conditions due to the death of the appellant.

The Board denied the reopening of a claim for service connection for a back disorder due to lack of new and material evidence, as no current back disorder was found related to military service.

The Veteran's current low back disability, including pain and degenerative disc disease, is related to his in-service parachuting accident. The Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection of a back disability, bilateral knee disability, great right toe disability, and migraine headaches. The claims are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations to address the etiology of these disabilities.

The Veteran's urethra stricture is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board finds that a higher rating may be warranted based on his current symptoms. The Veteran’s lumbar spine disability was also found to warrant further examination due to his assertions of worsening.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and his TDIU claim from October 11, 2012 to July 12, 2017 was denied due to lack of evidence showing he is unemployable because of service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's current degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is related to service and has been recurrent since then, meeting all elements for service connection.

The Board has ordered remand of the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disorders, as these issues were not adequately addressed in prior opinions. The VA examiner is required to provide an opinion regarding whether the Veteran’s spinal conditions are related to active service or caused by his service-connected right posterior tibialis disorder.

Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted as due to herbicide exposure.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy, IBS, and PCT are granted as secondary to service-connected conditions.,Service connection for myocardial chest pain and RUE disorder is denied.,Service connection for cold injury residuals is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, tinnitus, and LBBB. The Veteran's claim for left knee and right knee disabilities is also remanded. The effective date of the increased rating for LBBB remains August 28, 2014.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's low back disorder and his military service, including exposure to vibrations from operating equipment and being on ships during service. The Veteran also reported assaults that may have contributed to his current condition.

The Veteran's low back strain has been granted service connection.,Service connection for high cholesterol is denied as it is not a compensable disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not precluded him from engaging in substantially gainful employment, and thus TDIU is denied. The case is being remanded to obtain additional information regarding the Veteran's employment status and to schedule a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for herniated nucleus pulposus with degenerative disc disease was denied.,Claims for increased ratings for right ulnar neuropathy and left upper extremity neuropathy were also denied prior to August 24, 2016. However, the claims were granted as of that date.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back, right hip, and sinus disabilities due to in-service injuries or conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar strain and PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his in-service injuries.