Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates of service connection for low back and tinnitus. The claims for increased ratings for low back disability and left ankle fracture are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current lumbar spine disorder is related to his service. The Veteran will need a VA examination to determine if his back condition was caused by an event, injury or disease during service.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 10 percent. The lumbar spine disability is granted a 40 percent rating effective April 16, 2018 and a 50 percent rating effective April 27, 2017 for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran's claims of service connection for a left knee disability as secondary to his service-connected lumbar strain are also being addressed.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn, and the claims are dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee and back disabilities, as well as an increased rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The issues include determining whether these conditions are related to service or secondary to a shortened right leg, and if so, whether they have been aggravated by that condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal as his substantive appeal was not timely filed in response to the December 3, 2014 statement of the case.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for lumbar spondylosis and degenerative changes of the right shoulder joint. The Board also ordered a remand for verification of the Veteran’s dates of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA). Additionally, the Board requested additional VA treatment records and scheduled the Veteran for a sinus examination to assess his claimed disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as well as his TDIU claim. The issues include bilateral hip disabilities and a lumbar spine disability. A new VA examination is required to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for a trachea disorder, increased ratings for various disabilities, and the issue of entitlement to TDIU. The effective dates for granting service connection are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability is etiologically related to his active service and has granted entitlement to service connection for a back disability.

The Board denied reopening the claims for service connection for chronic low back disability with degenerative disc disease (claimed as secondary to left leg disorder) and status post left rotator cuff repair with muscle atrophy due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lower spine with lumbosacral strain and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy have been rated at 10 percent, but no higher. The rating for the lower spine is denied as it does not meet criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection of lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, as he contends it is related to his residual cyst condition. The hypertension and residual cyst claims are denied.

The Board has remanded both claims of service connection due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the low back disability, and because a decision on one could significantly impact the other.

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

The Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical disc disease was reopened and granted. The claims for increased ratings for lumbar disc disease, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy were remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed. The Board also remanded the issue of his claim for a higher rating for lumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD).