Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for a left foot hammer toe condition is denied as there is no evidence of such a condition during service or related to his service-connected pes planus.,The effective date for the grant of service connection for right inguinal hernia scar cannot be earlier than August 16, 2012 due to lack of prior claim within one year of discharge from service.,The effective date for the grant of service connection for other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder cannot be earlier than August 27, 2012 as there was no prior claim within one year of discharge from service.,Service connection is remanded for a low back condition secondary to pes planus due to lack of medical evidence linking the condition directly to service or to a service-connected disability.,Service connection is also remanded for a bilateral hip condition secondary to pes planus due to lack of medical evidence linking the condition directly to service or to a service-connected disability.,Service connection is also remanded for a bilateral knee condition secondary to pes planus due to lack of medical evidence linking the condition directly to service or to a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to an error in the March 2015 VA examination, which did not sufficiently address whether the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder is a congenital defect or disease and if it can improve or deteriorate. The examiner must provide additional opinions on these points.

The Veteran's claim for hypertension was dismissed as he withdrew his appeal. The Board remanded cases related to back disability, lung disorder, ischemic heart disease, liver disorder, hemorrhoids, and epididymitis of the testicles.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new VA examination to determine if there is any relationship between the Veteran's cervical spine disorder and his service. The TDIU claim was also remanded due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, sleep apnea, skin disability, and seizure disorder. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection or any form of presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder is granted as service connected, with the Board finding it etiologically related to his in-service injury.

Service connection is denied for sleep apnea, stomach disability, hypertension, left hand disability, low back injury, left leg lumbar radiculopathy, right ankle injury residuals, left wrist degenerative arthritis, and left eye injury residuals.,A compensable rating is granted for scar, status post left wrist fusion.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of August 23, 2006 for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The Board found that his service-connected disabilities have rendered him substantially unemployable since at least this date.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent prior to April 21, 2017, and in excess of 40 percent from that date, for low back arthritis is denied. The claim for a 20 percent evaluation for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy from July 17, 2012, is granted.

The Board has remanded both issues for further development and consideration. The Veteran's hearing loss claim is being reviewed due to new evidence, while his back disability claim requires a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, finding that his current low back disability did not manifest during or within one year after service and is not otherwise etiologically related to active service, including as secondary to service-connected left tibia fracture.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his xerosis, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, right knee disability, and headache.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinion regarding the Veteran's back disability, which may be related to service. A new VA examination is required.

The Board has denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, alcohol abuse, and erectile dysfunction. The remaining issues of service connection for low back disability, neck disability, bilateral arm neuropathy, mouth disability, and respiratory disability are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for rheumatoid arthritis and degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine due to lack of a VA medical opinion on service connection, and failure to schedule a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial disability rating for his lumbar spine disability and right-sided radiculopathy due to inadequate VA examinations, including a lack of discussion on flare-ups and functional loss.

This decision grants service connection for degenerative joint disease and spondylosis of the cervical spine, degenerative joint disease, chronic discopathy, and osteoarthritis of lumbar spine and chronic thoracic myalgia concomitant with degenerative joint disease of the thoracic spine, headaches, and paresthesias of the left thigh, all secondary to service-connected left inferior pubic stress fracture.,This decision also grants an initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD and depressive disorder.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including knee and spine conditions. The reasons are that new evidence indicates an increase in severity for all conditions, a peripheral nerve examination is needed, and VA examinations must include joint testing for pain on both active and passive motion.

The claim for service connection of a low back disability, including spondylolisthesis at L4-L5, is reopened and granted. The Veteran's evidence shows he had a parachute jump injury in 2003 which may be related to his current condition.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted service connection. Service connection for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities is denied.