Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have caused and aggravated his obstructive sleep apnea. The restoration of the 30 percent disability rating for left knee degenerative changes is granted, as are separate ratings for painful limitation of extension of both knees and symptomatic semilunar cartilage removal of the left knee.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss have been denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support these claims.,For lumbar degenerative joint disease with strain, the Veteran's claim has been remanded as his disability rating may need to be increased.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient rationale in a previous VA examination. The examiner is requested to provide opinions on whether the Veteran's bunions and hammertoes, as well as her cervical and lumbar spine degenerative conditions, were aggravated during service or related to any incident of service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increased rating prior to September 12, 2014 and maintained the current 20 percent rating thereafter.

The Veteran's lumbar disc herniation with sciatic depression is granted an initial rating of 20 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbar strain is dismissed due to the death of the claimant.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine condition, OSA, and PTSD due to new evidence received after his previous final denial. The RO must obtain National Guard service treatment records, private medical records, and lay statements from family members and fellow veterans who observed symptoms during service.

The Veteran's cervical spine spondylosis and degenerative disc disease were granted a 30 percent rating effective from February 4, 2016. The other conditions remained denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher combined rating is denied as the additional 10 percent rating for right hip extension does not result in an overall increase in his combined rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (diagnosed as depressive disorder) are all granted. The Board found that the current conditions are related to his military service due to the nature of his duties.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is being remanded for further evaluation and additional medical records are needed.

Service connection for fibromyalgia, left elbow disorder, right wrist disorder, left wrist disorder, low back disorder, left hip disorder, left ankle disorder, and right ankle disorder is granted.,PTSD service connection claim is REMANDED.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability. The case of hypertension is remanded due to the need for an opinion regarding its relationship to in-service injury, including a personal assault. The left ankle sprain rating is also remanded for further examination and evaluation.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for the issues of service connection for various conditions, including back disorder, right hip disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, allergic rhinitis, obstructive sleep apnea, hyperglycemia, alopecia, obesity, carpal tunnel syndrome of the wrists. Service connection was granted for Other Specified Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back and upper back disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran is required to provide additional treatment records, and a new VA examination will be conducted to address these issues.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, but has remanded both issues due to lack of VA examination.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to August 30, 2017 due to service-connected low back disability for further consideration.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbosacral strain and neuropathy in both lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's ddd of the thoracolumbar spine is granted as service connected, with evidence showing it was caused by in-service parachute jumps and exacerbated by a 2008 motor vehicle accident.