Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's low back condition is granted service connection, but his left shoulder and right wrist conditions are denied. The issue of entitlement to service connection for right upper quadrant pain and tinea pedis is remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Low Back Condition, and Gastrointestinal Disorder have been withdrawn.,Service connection has not been established for the Veteran's bilateral shoulder condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, left knee disorder, low back disorder, and peripheral vascular disease as secondary to a low back disorder. The case is remanded for further development including obtaining STRs, VA treatment records, and additional examinations.

The Board is remanding the case to determine if the Veteran's scoliosis existed prior to service and whether it was aggravated by military service, as well as to consider any other diagnosed back disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's conditions are all found to be related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and remanded the issues of initial compensable ratings for cervical spine disability, right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and right great toenail disability.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted a TDIU, but the increased rating claims for the lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy remain denied.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative changes of the cervical spine and lumbar spine with pain, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's in-service duties as a Special Forces member.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to incomplete records, need for additional examinations, and inextricably intertwined issues.

The Board denied service connection for various foot, knee, and back disorders as well as fibromyalgia. The evidence did not support the Veteran's assertions that her conditions began in service or were caused by any service-connected disorder.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, cervical strain, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, left lower extremity sciatica, right hip strain, and left hip and left knee disabilities. The issues include seeking higher initial ratings for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, low back disability, hip disorders, knee disorders, and ankle disorders due to incomplete service treatment records. The claims are inextricably intertwined with the claim for bilateral pes planus.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received, and to that extent only, the reopening of the claim for service connection for a back disability is granted. The Veteran's back disability (including osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease) was found to be secondary to his service-connected left anterior cruciate ligament repair.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and examination. The Veteran's claims of service connection are pending, but the appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient opinions regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine, neck, and TMJ disorders. The VA examiner is required to address the significance of the Veteran's reports of back pain in service following a motor vehicle accident, as well as his post-service injuries.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated medical records and completing a VA Form 21-8940 to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for scoliosis with degenerative disc disease of the spine and remanded the issue of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for right eye refractive error.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's current right hip disability, finding that it is secondary to an in-service injury. The back disability issue was remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeals to reopen claims for service connection for various joint disabilities, including arthritis of the elbows, hands, knees, feet, and low back. The evidence received since the December 2012 rating decision supports a finding that these conditions may be related to his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all conditions and issues except hypertension, PTSD/Depressive Disorder with Memory Loss, sleep apnea, chronic fatigue syndrome, GERD, back disorder, right and left upper extremity radiculopathy, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, right and left hand disabilities, diverticulitis, chronic constipation, urinary incontinence, arthritis of the entire body, fibromyalgia/arthralgia, erectile dysfunction, rhinitis, migraine headaches, fungus of the feet, sinusitis, hypercholesterolemia. The Board dismissed these appeals as per the Veteran's withdrawal.