Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back, left knee, right knee, TBI, and acquired psychiatric disorders due to the need for additional medical records and examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his lumbar spine strain is remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of private treatment records.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disabilities have worsened since his last VA examination in May 2016, and a new VA examination is needed to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection of lumbosacral strain based on CUE, and remanded the issue of service connection for a respiratory disability due to in-service exposure to diesel fumes.

The Veteran's left ventricular hypertrophy and tinnitus have been granted service connection. The lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, migraines, and status post left knee replacement are remanded for further examination and opinion. Service connection for tinea versicolor is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar sprine arthritis and degenerative disc disease. The appeal regarding left foot corns (claimed as left foot pain) and right foot pain is remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service connected. The cases for increased disability ratings are remanded.

The Board denied reopening the claims for service connection for low back pain, right underarm disability, and bilateral leg disability due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is rated at 10 percent, but the Board found that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record. The appeal for an increased rating remains pending.

The Board has restored service connection for DDD of the lumbar spine, bilateral hips, and feet. Service connection is also granted for secondary peripheral nerve entrapment syndromes of the right and left lower extremities. The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 10%.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected lumbar vertebral fractures with thoracolumbar kyphoscoliosis, dextroscoliosis, and severe back strain is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the severity of his disability.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine has been dismissed.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran’s claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, but the claim is only granted on this basis.,Service connection for left hip disorder and right hip disorder have both been denied as secondary to service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine.,Service connection for PTSD has been granted.,The Veteran's original claim for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine was denied in 2006, with no appeal received within one year. The current effective date is December 8, 2011.

The Board has determined that further development of the medical evidence is required to decide the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition, claimed as DDD and bulging discs. The examiner must provide an opinion regarding whether any identified back conditions are etiologically related to the Veteran’s active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities. The claims for radiculopathy of the right leg and left leg are remanded due to lack of a definitive diagnosis in the record.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his requests for service connection and increased ratings, along with the effective date of a disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment from June 8, 2007 to May 1, 2010.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and radiculopathy (numbness of the entire right side of the body) due to new evidence. However, the claim for service connection remains denied as there is no credible evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied service connection for a neck disorder and a low back disorder, finding that the Veteran did not have these conditions during or within one year after his military service. The Board also found no link between any current symptoms of these disorders and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for lumbar degenerative joint disease (DJD) as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, migraine headaches, or PTSD to a degree recognized as a disability for VA purposes. The claims are being remanded due to insufficient evidence.