Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, left knee disorder, and tinea versicolor. The Veteran's lumbar spine and left knee disorders were not shown to be related to his active service, and the tinea versicolor was not found to meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disorder and obstructive sleep apnea were addressed. The Board found the issues of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and increased rating for low back disorder (thoracolumbar spine IVDS) to be remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and Depression have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.,A total disability rating based on individual unemployability has been granted due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for myasthenia gravis is remanded as additional VA medical opinion is needed regarding its onset and relationship to his service-connected conditions.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and Depression, is remanded as a new VA examination is required to determine the nature of these disorders and their relationship to service or other factors.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine with radiculitis, is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess its current severity.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for inguinal hernia is remanded as additional VA treatment records are needed.,The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for prostate cancer residuals (including incontinence) are remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of recent medical evidence.

The claim for service connection of back disability has been remanded.,PTSD rating claims prior to June 12, 2014 have been denied.

The Board has denied service connection for a right knee disability due to lack of evidence of an in-service injury. The lumbar spine strain issue is remanded as the VA examination was inadequate.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative changes of lumbar spine L4/L5 with herniated disk, sciatic paresthesias of the left and right lower extremities, and paresthesias of the right foot are all granted.,However, his claim for patellofemoral syndrome of the right or left knee is remanded as additional evidence is needed to determine if it was incurred in service or aggravated by a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's 40 percent disability rating for traumatic arthritis of the lumbar spine is restored from May 22, 2012. The issue of whether he should receive a higher disability rating remains with the RO.

The Veteran's right shoulder impingement syndrome is granted as secondary to his service-connected left shoulder disability.,The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine is denied because it is not related to his active service and cannot be presumed to be so related.,The Veteran's left knee disorder is denied because it is not related to his active service and cannot be presumed to be so related.,The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as incurred during active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to insufficient examination reports, lack of audiometric testing prior to discharge, and inability to assess functional loss during flare-ups.

The Board has determined that a more thorough examination is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability, as there are recent changes in his condition and symptoms.

The Veteran's cause of death is denied as there is no evidence that his service-connected disabilities or any in-service exposure to herbicides caused or contributed substantially to his death.

Service connection for PTSD is granted. The Veteran's degenerative disc disease rating is remanded due to a lack of recent examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 50 percent disability rating, effective from the date of this decision. Service connection for his low back disorder as secondary to his service-connected right-patellofemoral syndrome with degenerative joint disease (claimed as patellofemoral syndrome bilateral) has been granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disorder and granted it, finding that there is sufficient evidence to establish a link between his current condition and an in-service injury.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee, shoulder, and back disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral flatfeet, left ear hearing loss, COPD, and tinnitus. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a low back disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, sleep apnea, and CHF are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for back disability, tinnitus, and depressive disorder. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is rated at 50 percent, which is the maximum under DC 5276. The Veteran’s skin condition (tinea pedis and onychomycosis) does not meet a compensable rating criteria. The Veteran's hallux valgus of both feet are assigned zero percent disability ratings.

The Board has remanded three issues: increased rating for low back disability, initial compensable rating for cold injury residuals of the right foot, and initial compensable rating for cold injury residuals of the left foot. The Veteran's testimony indicates his conditions may have worsened since his last VA examinations in 2013, so a new VA examination is required.

This decision denies service connection for left shoulder and low back disabilities, but grants a 50% evaluation for dysthymic disorder. The Veteran's current symptoms do not meet the criteria for higher ratings.,The Board found no evidence of current diagnoses for left shoulder or low back disabilities during his appeal period.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the issues of service connection for low back disability and TDIU are remanded due to outstanding private records.