Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for back disorder is reopened, and the case is remanded for further development. Other claims are also remanded for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen her claims for service connection for a back disability and depression. The evidence submitted since the prior final decision was not new or material, as it did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims.

The Veteran's appeals for hypertension and sleep apnea have been dismissed. The remaining issues of service connection for arthritis of the cervical spine, back disability, left hip disability, left knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Veteran's low back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are granted, as is a 70 percent rating for PTSD from March 17, 2017. The PTSD prior to that date is denied.

The Veteran's initial rating for lumbar strain prior to January 27, 2006 was denied.,An initial 40 percent rating for lumbar strain from January 27, 2006 to October 31, 2006 was granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of service connection for a low back disability.

The Veteran's urinary incontinence is granted as secondary to her service-connected arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Board has denied service connection for erectile dysfunction and remanded the issues of service connection for left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, as well as an initial rating for low back disability in excess of 10 percent prior to November 1, 2016, and in excess of 20 percent on and after November 1, 2016.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a lower back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to inadequate examination reports and the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and earlier effective date for TDIU related to his degenerative disc disease of the low back is being remanded due to incomplete or unclear evidence.

The Veteran's HIV related illness and chronic adjustment disorder with mixed depression and anxiety are granted service connection. The low back disability and skin cancer claims are remanded for further development.

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

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's low back disorder and its relationship to service, as well as his service-connected patellofemoral pain syndrome. The VA must obtain additional records and provide an addendum opinion addressing these issues.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, but finds that additional development is needed to determine if there is a current diagnosis and its relation to service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee and lumbar spine disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation to determine if they meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant.

The Board has granted an effective date of November 18, 2011 for the assignment of a 20% initial disability rating for left upper extremity radiculopathy. The Veteran's cervical spine and right knee patellofemoral syndrome increased ratings are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for a painful left palm scar is granted from January 4, 2012. The claim for service connection for a low back disorder is reopened and remanded.

The Board has determined that additional VA medical records are needed and a new examination is required due to procedural errors and the need for updated evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease and bilateral rib disability due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection. Additional development is needed, including obtaining service treatment records from his Army National Guard service and VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn all his pending appeals.