Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,A 10 percent rating for sacroiliitis of the right hip and a 40 percent rating for arthritis of the lumbar spine are granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of her service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with compression fracture at L2 and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity sciatic nerve are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for thoracolumbar spine arthritis and left knee osteoarthritis, but denied service connection for fibromyalgia, right knee disability, and abdominal or gastrointestinal disability. The rating for the left knee scar was reduced from 10% to 0%, effective September 1, 2012.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that new and material evidence has been submitted. The case is remanded for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disorders, including degenerative joint and disc disease, are of service origin. The decision grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and gastritis, finding no credible evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service. The effective date of service connection for PTSD was set at October 23, 2012.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, lumbar spinal strain, hypertension, and dysthymic disorder are remanded due to the need for new examinations to assess the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations, updated treatment records, and development of evidence regarding flare-ups and functional loss.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis has been denied.,Claims for effective dates prior to October 5, 1990 have also been denied for service connection for left ankle strain, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, and plantar fasciitis.

The Board has decided that a new VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of any diagnosed back disorders, as the existing evidence does not provide sufficient information for a determination.

The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient development and need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hip, back, shoulder, and knee disorders.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection of a cardiovascular disorder (chest pain and heart trouble) as moot because it was granted in full with the issuance of a February 2012 rating decision. Service connection is granted for cervical spine disorder and lumbar spine disorder, both found to have been incurred during active duty.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disorder and a left leg disorder due to insufficient evidence of record.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including psychiatric disorder, left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, neck disorder, low back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sinus congestion (allergy syndrome), and obstructive sleep apnea were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of current disability or etiology for these conditions.,The Veteran's claim for temporary total rating due to surgical treatment and convalescence of the right knee disability was also denied.

The Veteran's cervical spine DDD was granted a 20% rating from October 2, 2014 to February 15, 2018. The appeal for higher ratings is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted. The effective date is set at the date of receipt of the new evidence, which is April 20, 2016.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, finding clear and unmistakable evidence that the Veteran's pre-existing back condition existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a lower back disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and an in-service injury or disease. The preponderance of evidence showed normal spinal X-rays during active service and no objective findings of a back disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, degenerative disc disease, and multiple fractures, have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment since August 30, 2009. The effective date for the TDIU is set at that date.