Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and insufficient medical opinion to establish a link between current symptoms and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar strain is related to his service-connected bilateral ankle and right knee disabilities, resulting from a 2003 fall. The evidence is in equipoise as to whether this condition was caused by these service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to incomplete VA examinations, which did not include all necessary findings. The Veteran will need to undergo new VA medical examinations.

The Veteran's hypertension and cardiomyopathy are granted as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus and PTSD.,PTSD is granted with a 100 percent rating throughout the appeal period.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding that it is related to in-service back problems and current diagnosis.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to evaluate the current nature and severity of the Veteran's residuals from right lobe pneumonia, including lumbar spine kyphosis and limited cervical spine range of motion.

The Veteran's knee and hip disabilities, as well as his lower extremity sciatica, are being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his bilateral hip disabilities and back disability, as well as service connection for sleep apnea, are being remanded.,The Veteran’s psychiatric disability is rated at 50 percent prior to March 2, 2017 but not higher than that during the entire appeal period.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the veteran's back disability, specifically his claimed 2007 injury. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that the veteran’s current back disability had onset in or is otherwise related to active service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease, to include degenerative arthritis and herniated nucleus pulposus of the lumbosacral spine is remanded due to a lack of information regarding flare-ups and associated radiculopathy. The case will be returned to the Board after a VA examination during a time in which he experiences a flare up of his back disability.

The Veteran's low back condition, resulting from a diskectomy and fusion surgery, is granted at a 40 percent rating for the period prior to October 11, 2016. The appeal for higher ratings or service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and hemorrhoids are remanded due to the addition of new evidence. The effective date issue is not addressed as it pertains to a different claim.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with hallux valgus is granted a 30 percent rating, but no more. The lumbar spine disorder is denied service connection as not proximately due to or aggravated by the service-connected bilateral foot disability.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 20 percent, and a separate 10 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculitis has been granted. The TDIU claim is part of the underlying lumbar spine disability claim.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right foot disorder, low back disorder, and right ankle disorder due to outstanding VA treatment records that may be pertinent to her claims. The Veteran is required to provide any missing VA treatment records from specific medical facilities in Michigan.

Service connection for IBS, as due to Gulf War undiagnosed illness, is granted. Service connection for headaches, left arm condition, left wrist condition, right index finger injury, lower back condition, right knee condition, left knee condition, and right eye condition are denied. Service connection for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, both as due to Gulf War undiagnosed illness, are also denied.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and a right knee disability, finding that the evidence did not establish current disabilities or a link to service.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease and congenital spinal stenosis, bilateral pes planus, right knee condition, left knee condition, and right wrist condition (dominant) as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions originated during active service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various conditions due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology and no VA examiner having provided an opinion on all issues. The Veteran's reported in-service injuries are also under consideration.

The Veteran's lumbar strain and radiculitis of the right lower extremity are currently rated at 10 percent. The Board has ordered a new VA examination to assess the current severity of these conditions.