Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's initial increased ratings for lower back and left knee disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the current ratings adequately reflect the Veteran’s disability picture.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was reopened, but the claim remains denied. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy were granted initial ratings of 20 percent each.

The Board found clear and unmistakable error in the original service connection decisions for lumbar spine, cervical spine, and headache disabilities. The appeal is denied as there was no evidence to support these conditions being related to active service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of his low back disability is dismissed. The claims for service connection of left and right hip disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for his low back disability has been denied. The Board has also remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral radiculopathy and psychiatric disability, as well as TDIU due to the complexity of these issues.

The Board has granted the reopening of the Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck condition characterized as degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine. The issues of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and heart block are remanded.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for low back disability and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The claims are now pending before the Board for further adjudication.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction, low back pain, bilateral hip disorder, right knee pain, sleep apnea, and migraine headaches are all granted as secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder, identified as degenerative disc disease. The effective date of the grant is not specified in this decision.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a back disability and determined that there is no nexus between the current disability and active duty service. The Veteran's claims are denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to unanswered medical questions regarding the Veteran's low back disorder.

Service connection for a back disability is granted.,Service connection for athlete’s foot is granted.,Service connection for a left eye scar is granted.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is granted.,Service connection for short-term memory loss is granted.,Service connection for hypertension is granted.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of bipolar disorder with psychotic episodes due to new and material evidence. Service connection is granted for this condition. The low back disability, right hip disability, and left hip disability are not found to be related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions from VA examiners regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected low back strain caused or aggravated his left hip disability. The claim will be returned for further development and examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for a neck condition and an increased rating for low back strain are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, including lumbar strain and arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his in-service injury. The evidence shows continuity of symptomatology since discharge from service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his disabilities due to the need for more contemporaneous evaluations, additional treatment records, and an opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his spine disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions including lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, a heart condition, hypertension, colon cancer, and scar tissue surgery residuals. The VA is instructed to obtain information from SSA regarding any disability benefits the Veteran may have received.