Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for residuals of right infraorbital and right temple shrapnel wounds, a right arm shrapnel wound, a right buttock shrapnel wound, and a right leg shrapnel wound have been withdrawn.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hand disability other than left hand scars, to include arthritis; right knee disability, to include arthritis; back disability; and bilateral neurological disability of the lower extremities, to include sciatica are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a back disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination. The claim for TDIU is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other issues.

The Board has remanded the cases for further action due to procedural issues and to obtain additional medical examinations.

The Board has granted reopening of the service connection claim for low back condition and awarded service connection for lumbar spine spondylosis and degenerative disc disease, status post lumbar laminectomies and residual left radiculopathy. The right hip condition is remanded due to insufficient evidence on whether it is related to or aggravated by the low back condition.

The Board has determined that the April 2013 VA examination is inadequate for determining whether the Veteran's low back condition is related to her service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The case is being remanded for a new examination.

The Veteran's service connection claim for OSA is denied. The increased rating claims for lumbosacral strain with enthesopathy are partially granted, with a 40% rating effective April 5, 2018, and separate ratings of 10% each for lumbar radiculopathy of the LLE and RLE.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his lumbar spine disability was denied as the evidence did not show ankylosis or other conditions that would warrant a rating greater than 40 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine and recurrent peptic ulcer disease, have prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and occupational background.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA examination. A new examination is needed to assess her service-connected back disability.

The appeal of the denial of the claim for service connection for a right knee disorder is dismissed.,The appeal of the denial of the claim for service connection for seasonal allergies is dismissed.,Service connection for lumbar disc disease with multiple disc protrusions is granted.,The appeal of the denial of the claim for service connection for ingrown toenails is remanded.,The appeal of the denial of the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine and lung calcified granulomas are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability and TDIU due to incomplete information, including missing SSA records and an outdated VA examination. The Veteran will need to provide these records and undergo further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability and TDIU were denied because he failed to report for the scheduled VA examination without good cause.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were reopened and granted for DDD of the lumbar spine and sacroiliitis, right hemi-pelvis. The claim for PFB was not reopened, while the duodenal ulcer claim remains denied.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 20 percent, and a separate rating of 20 percent for associated left lower extremity neurologic abnormalities is granted. The Veteran does not have an established service connection for a cervical spine disability.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back, left hip, and right knee conditions due to outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted service connection, but his bilateral hearing loss and low back disability are denied.,The Board has remanded the claims for tinnitus and low back disability to allow for further examination and opinion.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's low back disability is related to his service-connected left knee disability and remands for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain and TDIU are remanded due to inadequate examination findings. The VA examiner did not provide information regarding functional limitations caused by flare-ups, which is required for a proper evaluation.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability is granted a 40 percent rating from July 7, 2008 to July 15, 2009. A separate 10 percent rating for right lumbar radiculopathy is granted effective July 7, 2008 and a 20 percent rating is granted effective February 9, 2017.