Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is related to his active service, including ACDUTRA service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical evidence and a need for further development. The issues include PTSD, depression, hypertension, sinusitis, bilateral pes planus, right hand chemical burn, left knee injury, right tennis elbow and arm pain, bilateral shoulder pain, contusion to the neck, and residuals of a left ankle injury.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's conditions require further examination and development, including obtaining new VA examinations to assess the severity of his lumbar spondylosis, limitation of extension and flexion of the left femoral head, and avascular necrosis of left femoral head. Additionally, the Board requests any outstanding VA treatment records as well as employment records from all employers identified by the Veteran.

The Board has restored a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's Scheuermann's disease of the thoracolumbar spine, effective January 22, 2018. The claims for higher ratings for the thoracolumbar spine and left knee disabilities are remanded.

Your claims for increased evaluations and restoration of a 40 percent evaluation for your service-connected lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with invertebral degenerative syndrome are being remanded to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for his lumbar spine disability is denied. The Board has also remanded the issues regarding service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's lumbar condition and its relation to his military service. The Veteran needs to provide more information about a 1977 injury at Fort Riley, and any relevant medical records should be obtained.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is linked to his current lumbar spine disability.,The RO has restored a 20% rating for the Veteran’s cervical spine disability and assigned a 30% rating effective January 30, 2018.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is related to her combat service in Iraq. Service connection for the psychiatric disorder is granted. The low back disability, bilateral hip strain, right and left knee disabilities, and right foot disability are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's appeals for higher initial ratings for his right shoulder postoperative SLAP tear and biceps tear, as well as his lumbar degenerative disc disease, post-operative condition were denied. The Board found that the disability did not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Veteran's appeals seeking compensable ratings for various conditions have been dismissed. The right ankle disorder claim was denied as new and material evidence has not been received.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for low back disorder, bilateral knee disability, and asthma. However, these claims have been denied as there is no evidence to support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain, tinnitus, and headaches are all related to her service. The left knee condition and gastrointestinal condition other than GERD have not been established as being related to her service.,Further examination is needed for the left knee condition and a determination on the gastrointestinal condition other than GERD.

The Veteran's lumbar degenerative spine disability is rated at 40 percent, and his IVDS affecting the right lower extremity prior to February 23, 2016 is rated at 20 percent. The rating for IVDS affecting the left lower extremity remains at 20 percent.

The Veteran's hypertension, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and cervical spine degenerative joint disease are not service connected. The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is rated at 10% since the beginning of the appeal period, while his cervical spine condition was initially non-compensable but later granted a 20% rating starting from May 16, 2013.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including migraine headaches and depression, have been found to cause or aggravate his current psychiatric disorder. His sleep apnea is also linked to his service-connected conditions. However, the Veteran’s DDD of the lumbar spine and hypertension are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete VA examinations and outdated treatment records. The issues of increased ratings for lumbar spine disability and right knee disability are pending.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability due to new and material evidence. The claims for right knee, right leg venous insufficiency, and acquired psychiatric disorder are all remanded for further development.,The Veteran's right knee disability is being remanded for a new medical opinion on its etiology. The claim for service connection for the right leg venous insufficiency is also remanded with a request for a new examination and opinion.,The claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety, and pain disorder associated with both psychological factors and a general medical condition are being remanded for a new examination by a psychologist or psychiatrist to determine their etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, but the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for depression and TDIU are being remanded due to procedural issues.

The Board has granted service connection for a back condition, lumbar spine DJD and DDD, major depressive disorder, but denied PTSD. The claims are reopened due to new evidence received since the last denial.