Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, coronary artery disease (CAD), hepatitis/liver disease, and GERD has been reopened. Service connection is granted for the low back disorder and GERD. The CAD claim is denied as it did not manifest within one year of separation from service or was not caused by the service-connected postoperative tibial fracture with recurrent cellulitis.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed back disability, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for PTSD and low back disability due to insufficient evidence from previous examinations, including a lack of range of motion testing. The Veteran will need to undergo new VA examinations to assess his conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding her pre-existing back condition and its relationship to her active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral testicle disability. Service connection is remanded for lumbar strain and cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's left shoulder, back, and right hip disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during active service.,There is no evidence of current hearing loss or tinnitus related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current back condition is related to his military service. The VA needs to obtain more recent treatment records and provide an addendum opinion from a clinician.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for her lumbar spine disability and for TDIU due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran needs to be provided with updated VA examinations to assess the severity of her disabilities, including flares.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current evaluations for his service-connected lumbar strain, left knee disability, and right knee disability are not reflective of their present severity. Therefore, a new VA examination is required to determine appropriate ratings.

Service connection for ulcerative colitis is granted. The Veteran's sleep apnea is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his current disability picture.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, finding that it is related to his in-service injury and is not aggravated by a post-service injury. The claim was reopened due to new evidence submitted since the previous denial.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a left rib injury is denied, and his initial rating for degenerative arthritis of the thoracic spine with lumbar sacralization and disc height narrowing is granted at 40 percent.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's back disability (degenerative disc disease) was aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine is rated at 40 percent from June 7, 2017.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the bilateral hearing loss disability claim. The remaining claims for service connection are remanded due to lack of verification of National Guard service and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's right and left knee braces, as well as his back brace, caused wear and tear to his clothing due to their fabric covering. The Board granted the Veteran's claim for receipt of clothing allowances for the 2013 calendar year.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder and denied initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity. The Veteran's current diagnoses were not shown to be related to his military service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a left shoulder disability has been dismissed. The Board denied increased ratings for lumbar spine and lower extremity radiculopathy, but granted a temporary TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board is remanding the cases to determine if earlier effective dates for service connection of lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy are warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the claims for right lower back disability and headache have been remanded due to outstanding records and procedural issues.