Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a psychiatric examination. The Veteran's claims of service connection for various disorders are not currently addressed as they have been remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claims for cervical spine degenerative arthritis and acid reflux disease are denied. The claim for a higher rating for low back disorder is granted, but subject to regulations governing payment of monetary awards.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at a 60 percent rating, effective October 18, 2014. The claim for an earlier effective date was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for further examination regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for service-connected DDD of the lumbar spine, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity are being remanded due to incomplete or outdated medical records.,The Veteran is seeking an increased rating for his service-connected DDD of the lumbar spine. The current 10 percent rating will be reviewed in light of recent VA examination findings and any additional evidence obtained.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a right ankle injury and low back disability were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to in-service injuries. The Board found that the Veteran did not have current diagnoses for these conditions.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 50 percent, and his TDIU claim has been granted. The initial rating for major depressive disorder remains unchanged.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than October 19, 2012 for the grants of service connection of PTSD, dyshidrotic eczema of the hands, and thoracolumbar spine strain are being remanded due to a missing VA medical record indicating an informal claim.

The Veteran's service connection claim for hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability.,His back disability was initially rated at 10 percent prior to July 29, 2014 and then granted a 20 percent rating effective from that date. The radiculopathy of his lower extremities has been rated at 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back and left hip disabilities as secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The claims are remanded for further evaluation of other issues, including scars from right knee surgery and convalescence time for left hip replacement.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a back disability has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board finds that further development is needed, including an examination by a clinician to determine if his current condition is related to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied. The Veteran is granted a 20 percent rating, but no more, for his lumbar spine disability with radicular symptoms of the right lower extremity prior to September 4, 2013 and in excess of 20 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis with a deviated septum is currently rated as noncompensable. The Board finds that the current rating adequately reflects his symptoms during the relevant period. For the lumbar spine disorder, the case is remanded for further development and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the low back disability, based on evidence that supports these claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of migraine headaches, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and PTSD are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine disability, diagnosed as lumbar strain/sprain, finding that the Veteran's military duties likely caused or contributed to his current condition.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of chronic sinusitis, and thus service connection for this condition cannot be established. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, headaches, and facial pain are all remanded for further examination to determine their etiology.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, right knee, left knee, right calf, and left calf disabilities due to their potential relationship with the Veteran's service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound of the right foot. The issue of entitlement to an initial rating higher than 50 percent for PTSD remains on appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right lung tumor, neck disability, and back disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.