Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back condition, right hip condition, and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's depressive disorder was rated at 30%.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a lower back disability and an effective date earlier than April 25, 2011 for his TBI. The Board found that there was no evidence to support the Veteran's claim of a lower back disability related to military service and that he did not file any formal or informal claims for TBI prior to April 25, 2011.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including bilateral hearing loss, cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, left and right thigh disabilities, left and right knee disabilities, tinnitus, and GERD. The remaining issues are pending further examination and evaluation.

New evidence has been submitted, and the claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain a new VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine degenerative disc disease is currently rated at 10% and granted for a period from September 11, 2017 to November 9, 2017. Service connection for right upper extremity radiculopathy and left upper extremity radiculopathy are denied. The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine degenerative disc disease is not rated higher than 10%.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated as 100 percent disabling, and he has additional disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent. He is also granted special monthly compensation at the housebound rate due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing is denied as he does not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating due to any service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent and 40 percent for her service-connected right lumbosacral plexopathy due to a lack of recent VA examination, and for consideration of TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to her service-connected PTSD. The Veteran and her representative have provided a study suggesting a potential link, which needs further evaluation.

The Veteran's cervical spine strain with DDD and spinal stenosis, right knee PFS with DJD, and left knee PFS with DJD are currently rated at 10 percent each. The Board found the evidence insufficient to warrant a higher rating.,Right and left knee conditions have been rated based on their current manifestations without considering any potential aggravation of pre-existing conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability and bilateral foot disability, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and service.,For the extraschedular evaluations of left ankle instability and right ankle sprains, the Board also denied them, stating there was no evidence to suggest they were due to obesity or other service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection due to new evidence of worsening symptoms, need for additional VA examinations, and potential secondary service connection issues.

The Board denied service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy and a rating greater than 10 percent for low back strain, finding no current diagnosis of these conditions. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was also denied as not meeting the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's TBI was granted, and the effective date is September 26, 2007.,Tinnitus has a maximum rating of 10 percent, which is already assigned. No higher ratings are available.

The Board has restored the disability ratings for lumbosacral strain and residuals of right radius fracture to their previous levels due to insufficient evidence showing improvement in the Veteran's conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with notification and examination scheduling, and the Veteran is required to provide additional private treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including left shoulder, right shoulder, left ankle, cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, and right ankle disabilities. The decision also includes a request for an initial compensable disability rating for migraine headaches. A new examination is required for each issue.

The Board has granted service connection for dizziness and vertigo, but denied service connection for a low back disability. The Veteran's current dizziness/vertigo is related to his military service, while the low back disability is not.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of left third and fourth fingers, right ankle, low back disability, left shin scar, PTSD, bilateral knee disabilities, stress fracture of the left tibia, right shoulder disability (prior to April 21, 2014), right clavicle disability, and right wrist disability have been denied. The Veteran's claims for service connection of right fifth finger disability are also denied.,The Board has dismissed the issues of service connection for low back disability, left shin scar, and PTSD as there is no case or controversy with respect to these issues.