Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disorder. The claim will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and bilateral pes planus are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and right leg sciatica are granted with ratings of 20% each, effective from the date of the decision. The claims for bilateral knee disability, right shoulder disability, head injury, and bilateral elbow disability are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU, stating that his service-connected disabilities alone were not sufficient to cause unemployability in the period of one year before the date of claim.

The Veteran's appeal of his sleep disorder was dismissed as he requested to withdraw the issue.,Service connection for a low back disorder, diagnosed as scoliosis, is granted. The Board found that the Veteran’s current condition is related to service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete records from the Fresno VA Medical Center. The Veteran's attorney requested updated treatment records, and a review found no recent inpatient hospitalization.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral shoulder DJD with right shoulder rotator cuff tear and left knee arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service.,The claim for lumbosacral spine status post laminectomy for herniated nucleus pulposus was also denied as there was no new and material evidence to reopen it.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 60 percent, but the Board finds no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis and denies a higher rating.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and lower extremity neuropathy disabilities are being remanded for further review due to the need for additional evidence or examination.

The Board has granted a 10 percent initial rating for hypertension, but the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for headaches, degenerative disc disease and arthritis of the lumbar spine, and left sciatic nerve radiculopathy are remanded due to lack of updated medical records and inadequate examination reports.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has ordered a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected lumbar spinal stenosis, L3-L4, with displacement and degenerative arthritis is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and updated medical records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right shoulder and lumbar spine disabilities due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of his back condition is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the previous VA examination. A new examination must be conducted by an examiner who has not previously examined him.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion from a VA examiner regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lower back disability. The Veteran is asked to provide any private medical records and undergo an additional VA examination.

The Veteran's back disability, major depression, anxiety disorder, and sleep disorders are not service-connected. Osteoarthritis is also not service-connected. Bursitis is unclear if it existed during the appeal period.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD was withdrawn. His right ankle condition is granted as service-connected, but the lumbosacral spine DDD with mild disc bulge at L4-L5 and L5 S1 does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a low back disability was denied as his current diagnoses are not related to his period of active service.,The Veteran's right shoulder reconstruction surgery rating was also denied, with the RO granting him a 20 percent rating throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence and for further development.