Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to work.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left hip disability is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected left knee disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's current low back and neck disorders are related to his service. The appeal will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for impacted wisdom teeth, residuals of pneumonia, low back disability, and cause of death (dementia) have been denied. The Board has remanded these issues due to the need for additional development.,Survivor pension benefits and burial benefits were also not granted in this decision.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for increased ratings for his back disability, and the Board dismissed the case as a result.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the issues of joint pain, low back disorder, and PTSD has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the issue of joint pain. The Board also denied service connection for low back disorder and PTSD as there was no current diagnosis or evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and dismissed the appeal for an increased rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability is reopened, and the case is remanded to determine the etiology of his condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of pseudofolliculitis barbae and therefore denied service connection for this condition. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded due to insufficient evidence or need for additional examination.

The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of her medical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition, PTSD/depression, and sleep apnea have been dismissed. The issue of TDIU is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a low back condition and bilateral knee conditions due to insufficient rationale in the previous VA examination opinions. The Veteran's symptoms need to be re-evaluated by an appropriate clinician who must consider all evidence, including his lay statements about symptom onset and continuity.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete records and the need for further development, including obtaining STRs and SPRs.

The Board has remanded the cases due to pending issues and requests for clarification from the Veteran's representative.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back and neck disorders due to incomplete factual premises in the VA examiner's opinions. The Veteran is required to provide information about any treatment providers, and outstanding VA records are needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right shoulder disability and a back disability due to insufficient rationale in the June 2015 VA examination. The Veteran contends that his current disabilities are related to an incident during service where shrapnel was lodged in his body.

This decision denies an increased rating for OSA and grants a TDIU. The Board finds the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine, bilateral lower extremity (BLE) radiculopathy, OSA, PTSD, LLE peripheral neuropathy, RLE peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension do not warrant staged ratings as his symptoms have not resulted in chronic respiratory failure with carbon dioxide retention or cor pulmonale, or the presence of a tracheostomy. The Board also finds that the Veteran is unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.,PTSD has been rated 50 percent disabling since September 16, 2008, and 70 percent disabling since October 24, 2011. Lumbar spine disability was rated 10 percent disabling as of April 20, 2004; LLE peripheral neuropathy was rated 20 percent disabling as of March 20, 2012; RLE peripheral neuropathy was rated 20 percent disabling as of March 20, 2012; and hypertension was rated non-compensable as of September 8, 2005. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.,PTSD has been rated 50 percent disabling since September 16, 2008, and 70 percent disabling since October 24, 2011. Lumbar spine disability was rated 10 percent disabling as of April 20, 2004; LLE peripheral neuropathy was rated 20 percent disabling as of March 20, 2012; RLE peripheral neuropathy was rated 20 percent disabling as of March 20, 2012; and hypertension was rated non-compensable as of September 8, 2005. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to incomplete examinations, lack of updated employment information, and need for additional medical opinions. The Veteran is also required to provide her most recent vocational rehabilitation records.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of chronic constipation and an earlier effective date for a 20% evaluation for residuals of a vertebra fracture. The Veteran's cervical spine disorder was granted as secondary to his service-connected residuals of a vertebra fracture.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is granted as secondary to service-connected lumbar spine DJD with IVDS, radiculopathy of the left lower sciatic nerve, and Morton’s neuroma. The Veteran's Morton’s neuroma remains at a 10 percent rating.