Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lower back disability was denied, but his claim for service connection for hemorrhoids was granted. The decision is mixed as it reopened the hemorrhoids claim and denied the lower back disability claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee chondromalacia, right knee chondromalacia, and lumbosacral strain as additional evidence is needed to assess their severity.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C was denied in an August 2006 rating decision. The RO determined that the evidence did not establish a relationship between the condition and any in-service risk factors.,The Veteran's claim for earlier effective date for PTSD prior to March 10, 2006 is dismissed as untimely filed.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD remains pending. The RO will schedule him for a VA examination to determine the current severity and manifestations of his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are being remanded due to the need for clarification of his lumbar spine disorder examination reports.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disability is granted service connection. The low back and chronic sleep disabilities are denied as not related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disability, retinal detachment in the right eye, lipomas (skin condition), and a right knee disability due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives. The issues are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and reviewing the case.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right elbow disability and increased rating for lumbar strain were both denied. The Board found no evidence of current right elbow disability, and the Veteran’s lumbar strain is currently rated at 10%.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory condition, an increased rating for his right shoulder strain, and TDIU. The Veteran's current symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher disability rating in any of these issues.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a back disability due to in-service fast roping duties, as there is insufficient evidence regarding the current condition and its relation to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasons and bases in its June 2016 decision, specifically regarding the Veteran's range of motion during flare-ups. The claim is now pending for a retrospective medical opinion.

The Veteran's service connection for a lumbar spine disorder is denied. A rating of 70 percent for PTSD from July 17, 2012 through August 15, 2016 is granted.

The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and otitis media. The claims of service connection for lumbar spine disorder, erectile dysfunction, neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and residuals of a broken jaw are being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

Service connection for major depressive disorder is granted. A rating in excess of 10 percent for hemorrhoids is denied. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine prior to September 9, 2014 and on or after September 9, 2014 is remanded. His claim for a compensable rating for anal fissure is remanded. His TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for headaches, lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, erectile dysfunction, and acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD and depressive disorder) require further examination and opinion to determine their etiology and service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for low back disorder, skin disorder, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus type II due to new evidence received since the last decision. The AOJ must review all relevant records and issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar IVDS was denied. A separate 10 percent rating for LLE radiculopathy as of February 19, 2010, and a separate 10 percent rating for RLE radiculopathy as of January 12, 2017, were granted.

The Board dismissed all issues due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disability (ankylosing spondylitis) and denied service connection for right knee condition. The claim of increased rating for cervical spine disability is remanded.