Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's depression is secondary to his service-connected back disability. The issues of increased ratings for left wrist, lumbosacral spine, and left knee disabilities are remanded due to outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's service connection for schizophrenia and left ear hearing loss is granted, while his claims for back condition, neck condition, and bilateral knee condition are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and congestive heart failure as secondary to hypertension. The Veteran's lower back disability, initially rated as lumbar osteoarthritis, is now rated at 40 percent from May 20, 2014, to December 21, 2017, with a 20 percent rating thereafter for cervical spine degenerative disc disease. The left knee strain with shin splints remains at a non-compensable rating.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of a lower back disability due to insufficient evidence and the need for an examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence was not submitted. The Board also remanded the issue of an effective date earlier than June 5, 2009 for the grant of service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a left shoulder injury, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, and bilateral hip disability have been denied. The appeals are not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's back disability is granted a 40% rating, and the postoperative residuals of anal fissure are also granted. Service connection for dental injury with bridge is denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, specifically his posterior laminectomies and degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the lumbosac spine. The case is being remanded for further action.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disorder, finding no medical nexus between her current condition and her military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating of his left hip, right hip, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, major depressive disorder (MDD), and TDIU. The VA will obtain outstanding records from the Louisville VA Medical Center and schedule a new examination to assess the severity of his lumbar spine condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for lumbar spine and right lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate nexus opinions regarding direct service connection and secondary service connection for a back condition. Additional evidence is needed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for his degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee, exercise-induced compartment syndrome of the legs, allergic rhinitis, GERD, or migraines prior to and after May 5, 2015. The Board also found that remand was necessary for further development regarding service connection for insomnia.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability was reopened, as new evidence showed the condition may be related to service. Service connection is granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was also reopened and granted.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded for referral to the Director, Compensation Service, for an extraschedular determination as to whether he is entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities from March 30, 2007 to May 18, 2010.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities as due to a lumbar spine disorder. The claim for service connection for a left shoulder disorder is remanded.

The claims for service connection of left shoulder, low back, and left knee disabilities have been denied.,Service connection for traumatic brain injury (TBI) has also been denied.,An effective date earlier than April 28, 2015 for the grant of service connection for depression is denied.

The claim for service connection of depression was granted in full. The claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for thoracolumbar degenerative joint disease, intervertebral disc syndrome is denied. The claims for initial evaluations in excess of 10 percent for left and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar degenerative disc disease and depression are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient rationale in the previous VA examination and the need for a new examination to determine if the Veteran's lumbar strain is related to his service-connected right and left knee disabilities.