Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for low back disability, tinnitus, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety and depression). The claim for increased rating of left foot plantar fasciitis is denied. A remand is ordered to obtain a nexus opinion regarding the acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine disorder, and right hand disorder as there was no evidence of a current disability or a link to active service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee and lumbar disorders, which were diagnosed as osteoarthritis of the knee and a back disorder respectively. The VA will conduct further examinations to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's scoliosis is a congenital defect or disease, and if so, whether it was aggravated by service. The VA examiner will need to provide opinions on these points.

The Board denied service connection for low back, bilateral hip, and bilateral ankle disabilities due to lack of evidence supporting a direct relationship with the Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude her from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for cluster headaches, degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the right hip, residuals from left hip replacement, lower back condition, cellulitis and tinea, and eczema due to inadequate examination reports.

The Board has denied service connection for low back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and psychiatric disorder (PTSD). The issue of nonservice-connected pension is remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding service connection for a back condition and an increased rating for PTSD.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for back disability and sinus trouble with asthma due to an undiagnosed illness, as new and material evidence has been received. The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability was denied. The claims period is marked by increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine and separate ratings for neurological impairment in both lower extremities, but denial on other issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic low back condition was reopened and granted. The appeal is dismissed as the benefit sought on appeal has been granted.

The Veteran's low back musculoligamentous strain disability is being remanded for a new examination to determine its current severity and whether he experiences intervertebral disc syndrome or lower extremity radiculopathy.

The claim for service connection of a low back disorder has been reopened and remanded. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for a low back disability, finding that the submitted evidence was not new and material.

The Board has decided that an examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's back condition is related to his service in Vietnam, and thus remands the case for further action.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of October 27, 2006 for a separate 20% disability rating for left lower extremity sciatica secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence in his service treatment records, and requests additional opinions from VA examiners regarding whether any current disabilities are related to his active military service.

The Veteran's right shoulder arthroscopic reconstruction with residuals is rated at 20 percent since February 6, 2015. Service connection for adhesive capsulitis, instability, low back condition, and arthralgia, right hip are all denied. However, service connection was granted for right knee patella tendonitis.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease with radiculopathy and left hip disability are granted. The left hip disability is remanded for further examination.