Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a back condition due to incomplete development and failure to address the Veteran's lay statements regarding an in-service injury. The case is returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for PTSD was withdrawn. The Board has remanded the claim for lumbago claimed as lower back condition and arthritis due to a lack of supporting evidence.

The Board is remanding the claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings due to new evidence indicating potential secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a headache disability has been reopened, but the Board finds that there is not enough evidence to grant service connection at this time.,The Veteran's tinnitus was rated 10% and denied an increased rating. The appeal on this issue is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine disorder, left knee disorder, and squamous cell carcinoma. The Board found no evidence of a chronic disability in service or within the initial post-service year that could be linked to these conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for initial compensable ratings and effective dates for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hearing loss. The remaining issues of service connection have been remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disability and an initial rating of 70 percent for his PTSD, finding that there is sufficient evidence to support these determinations.

The Board has determined that new evidence has been added to the claims file and must be considered by the AOJ. The Veteran's VA treatment records for the period from October 2018 to present are requested, and a Supplemental Statement of the Case is needed on the five issues of earlier effective dates and increased ratings.

The Board dismissed all claims as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection is granted for PTSD, but no rating assigned as it is a direct service connection case.

The Veteran's petition to reopen her claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder, secondary to her hysterectomy was granted. The claims for service connection of a lumbar spine disability, left foot disability, and right foot disability were remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disorder, specifically whether it is related to her injury during INACDUTRA in March 1985.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board granted increased ratings for left knee plica syndrome, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, and carpal tunnel syndromes (right and left), with a combined rating of 100 percent.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder is remanded for further examination to determine its etiology.

The Veteran's back condition is currently rated at 20 percent, which adequately reflects the functional impairment and pain he experiences. The evidence does not show forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less, nor ankylosis of the spine.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and a back disability, but denied service connection for right knee and left knee disabilities. The case of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed for the Veteran's increased rating claims for his left shoulder, back, and left tibial fracture disabilities. The Veteran's sinusitis claim also requires further examination to determine its severity.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine condition and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity are granted with specific ratings, while the right lower extremity radiculopathy is denied. Appeals for higher ratings have been withdrawn.