Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for the entire appeal to be dismissed.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining relevant medical records and opinions regarding service connection for various conditions.

The appeal for an increased evaluation of mechanical low back pain is dismissed. The Veteran's radiculopathy and sleep disorder claims are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for a low back disorder because new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds no basis for a higher rating.,The Veteran's right and left plantar fasciitis and calcaneal spur with degenerative joint disease are each rated at 20 percent.,PTSD is rated at 50 percent.,Service connection for shortness of breath, lumbar spine disorder, and sleep apnea secondary to PTSD is remanded.,The Veteran's lower back condition was denied in a final November 2011 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left hip, left foot, right foot, and low back disabilities due to the need for further medical opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability, service connection for hypertension and Parkinson's disease, and TDIU. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, diabetic retinopathy, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, clinical right L5-S1 lumbar radiculopathy, and clinical left L5-S1 lumbar radiculopathy.,No specific exposure basis was provided in the decision.

The Board has determined that the claims of service connection for a back disorder, right hand disorder, left eye disorder, and Parkinson's disease are inextricably intertwined with the need to determine the Veteran’s periods of active duty, active duty for training, and inactive duty training. Therefore, these claims are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and right knee disability, as well as bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran is seeking to establish a relationship between his current disabilities and his active duty service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current low back and right knee disabilities are related to in-service injuries sustained during his service.

The Veteran's claim for a bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis under VA regulation.,Claims for increased ratings for cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities were remanded due to insufficient medical evidence or lack of clear and unmistakable error (CUE).,Service connection claims for digestive disorder, joint pain, skin condition, traumatic brain injury, and right great toe bunionectomy residuals were also remanded.,The Veteran withdrew his claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus and for a compensable disability rating for scars (claimed as neck fusion surgical scar, bunionectomy scar).

The Veteran's initial ratings for lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of the right and left sciatic nerves, and radiculopathy of the right and left femoral nerves were denied. The reductions in rating from 20% to 10% or 0% effective August 1, 2018, were found to be improper.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including back disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, circulatory problems, type II diabetes mellitus, and diabetic neuropathy. The reasons given were that the disabilities did not manifest within one year of service separation or are otherwise unrelated to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of degenerative disc disease of the cervical and lumbar spine is being remanded due to a scheduling issue with his requested hearing.

The Board denied service connection for a low back condition and remanded the claims for left knee and right knee disorders due to lack of current diagnosis.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, including as due to his service-connected cervical spine and right shoulder disorders. The issue of extending a temporary total rating for right shoulder surgery convalescence beyond October 31, 2006 is considered moot.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and obstructive sleep apnea. The claims for reopening of service connection for headaches, back condition, appendicitis, cervical spine disorder, and lumbar spine disorder have been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for knee and hip disabilities, as well as secondary service connection to his right ankle disability are remanded due to incomplete examination reports.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine, low back, bilateral hip, and neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities disabilities as they are not shown to be related to military service.