Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition and chronic fatigue syndrome is denied. The Board granted service connection for dizziness due to fibromyalgia, with a disability rating of 50%.

The Board has granted the reopening of the claim for service connection for a low back disability. The claim for service connection for a jawbone disability remains denied as new and material evidence was not received.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, as the evidence did not show that they precluded him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's migraines are currently rated as 30 percent disabling, but the Board has granted a 50 percent rating. The Veteran’s low back disability is remanded for further examination and evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU, but evidence indicates they prevent employment. The case is remanded to determine if an extraschedular rating is warranted.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a low back disability due to insufficient evidence regarding its relationship to service. The Veteran's testimony and post-service medical records suggest a history of low back symptoms, but the VA examiner concluded that the current condition is not related to service.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim of service connection for a back disorder was denied as no new and material evidence had been received showing a relationship to military service.,His application to reopen his claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was granted, but the underlying issue remains remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of major depressive disorder and remanded his lower back disability claim.

The Board has remanded the claims due to incomplete service records and requests for additional information from the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The case is being returned for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records, requesting information about employment history, scheduling an examination for bilateral hearing loss, and scheduling a VA examination for the low back disorder.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service connected. The low back and bilateral hearing loss claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's low back DJD and DDD are rated at 20 percent effective February 24, 2016. The issue of service connection for IBS due to Gulf War illness is remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for fibromyalgia, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The remaining claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, hypertension, and lumbar spine disability. The claim for bilateral lower extremity neuropathy is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has denied service connection for degenerative changes in bilateral knees with left knee patellofemoral syndrome and remanded the issue of secondary service connection for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine. The Veteran's claim is being returned to VA for further review.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied as there is no credible evidence linking his current condition to military service.,Service connection is granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, with the presumption that it was incurred during active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable or unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for the consideration of new evidence in his file, including VA treatment records and examination reports. The issues include a rating increase for mechanical low back pain, instability/laxity of right knee, and limitation of extension/painful motion of right knee.

The Veteran requested to reopen his claim for service connection of degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, but before a decision was made by the Board, he withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for a lumbar spine disability has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.