Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for back and right knee disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The case will be returned to VA for further examination.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to an in-service injury or disease and concluding that aging is more likely than not the cause of her degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a degenerative bones disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD have been dismissed.,The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, right knee disability, left knee disability, and back disability.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration. The Veteran's claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder, are being reviewed due to lack of VA examination opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back and right hip disorders, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in a combined rating of at least 80 percent, which meets the minimum schedular requirements for a TDIU. The Board finds that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities as of April 7, 2011.

The Veteran's chronic lumbosacral myositis and sciatica of the right and left lower extremities have been granted service connection, with a 10% disability rating for each condition.

The Board has reopened the claims for left shoulder/arm pain, liver mass, right ear hearing loss disability, back disability, shin splints, right knee disability, sleep apnea, GERD, and PTSD. However, service connection is not granted for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the RO has ordered a new VA examination to assess its current severity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for DJD of the lumbar spine and a neck disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional records from Social Security Administration (SSA).

The Veteran's initial compensable rating claim for migraine headaches was denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s migraine headaches did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating as they were not prostrating in nature. The claims for service connection of low back, right ankle, and sleep disturbances are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability and TDIU prior to October 26, 2011 as there was no evidence showing the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back pain with sciatica is a result of an in-service injury, specifically falling off a tank while serving as a gunner. The service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is being remanded for a VA examination to assess its current severity and manifestations.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back condition has been reopened, and the Board finds new and material evidence. The case is remanded to obtain VA treatment records and schedule an examination to determine if his current conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease L5-S1 and associated radiculopathy of the lower extremities are currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the reduction in the rating for chronic lumbar spine strain, entitlement to a higher rating for posttraumatic ankylosis of the right ankle, and entitlement to a compensable rating for chronic right knee strain.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and arthritis of the ankles, knees, cervical, and thoracolumbar spine as there is no evidence that these conditions are related to active service.

The Veteran's back disability and endometriosis are granted service connection. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, right hip disability, breathing disability, memory loss disability, and acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) remain on appeal.