Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of his low back disability and an increased rating for PTSD. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a direct relationship between the Veteran’s current disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for upper back and bilateral knee disabilities are reopened, and the appeal of these issues is granted. The Board has ordered a VA examination to determine if the disabilities had their onset in or are otherwise attributable to the Veteran’s period of active service.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, and back disability (secondary to left knee) as all have been found to be related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for an eye disability and a back disability due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is presumed credible regarding his in-service injuries, but additional medical records are needed to determine if there is a link between his current disabilities and service.

The claim for service connection of the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, right hip disability and right foot disability is reopened. The claims for secondary service connection are remanded due to lack of an opinion on whether these disabilities were caused or aggravated by his service-connected status-post compartment release of the right lower extremity with residual saphenous neuropathy.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.,The Veteran is also seeking an earlier effective date for TDIU and SMC, which are being remanded as well.

The Board found that the reduction in disability evaluation for lumbar spine disability from 40% to 20% was proper and denied an increased rating for anxiety disorder. The TDIU claim prior to October 15, 2012, was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for a VA examination. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in functional equivalent loss of use of his feet, which may qualify him for automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only benefits.

The Veteran's left shoulder residuals and degenerative arthritis are rated at 20 percent from February 27, 2013. The Veteran's multilevel degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is rated at 10 percent from April 23, 2015.

The Veteran's lumbar spine spondylolisthesis and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies are rated at 20 percent each. The combined rating is over 40 percent, meeting the schedular criteria for a TDIU from May 27, 2016.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's low back disability is related to his service, and a new VA medical opinion is needed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition, bilateral radiculopathy (secondary to the back condition), bilateral hip condition (secondary to the back condition), and bilateral leg condition (secondary to the back condition) have been granted.

The Board denied service connection for a lower back condition and granted service connection for right ear hearing loss. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for left knee, right knee, and chronic headaches.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including chronic back disability, osteoarthritis of the knees bilaterally, anxiety disorder, hypertension, lumbar radiculopathy, and cholelithiasis. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is not service-connected, and his left ankle DJD warrants a 10% rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, and DDD of the lumbar spine were denied. The claim for increased rating for hypertension was also denied. The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of a right eye corneal scar, lupus, low back disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed lumbar spine degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease are related to an in-service injury, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and a rating in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder disability from July 1, 2015 due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's claim for service connection is based on new and material evidence.