Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's right shoulder calcific tendonitis and lumbosacral strain are not service-connected.,The Veteran's headaches do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation or an effective date prior to March 14, 2011.

The Board has granted service connection for fibromyalgia on a presumptive basis due to undiagnosed illness. The issues of service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, systemic lupus erythematosus with inflammatory arthritis, and bilateral foot disability are remanded as there is insufficient evidence addressing the relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board dismissed the claim of service connection for a right hip disorder as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to the issuance of a decision. The issues of increased ratings for low back and left hip disabilities are remanded.

Service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine has been granted.,New and material evidence having been presented, service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is reopened.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee and low back disabilities due to insufficient evidence in the record, including a lack of an adequate VA examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to outstanding VA treatment records from February 2016 to the present, including hospitalization records from March and May 2018.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings was denied. The reduction of the rating for left knee strain and instability from 40 percent to 10 percent and noncompensable, respectively, is found to be void ab initio.

The Board has denied requests for earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for back and right knee disabilities, finding that the earliest date is June 8, 2012. The Veteran's original claims were not appealed within one year of denial.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records from San Joaquin General Hospital.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical records and opinions.

Your appeals for service connection have been dismissed as you withdrew your appeal before a decision was made.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with IVDS is rated at a 10 percent rating from April 16, 2012 to May 29, 2014.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, delusional disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and various other conditions are granted. Service connection is also granted for diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted the appellant's application to reopen his previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a hernia. The claim is remanded for further development regarding other disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) at T-7 and T-8 of the lumbar spine as secondary to service-connected residuals of fracture at T-5 and T-7. The issues of radiculopathy of the right lower extremity and numbness of the left lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded for further action.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected low back disability is remanded due to the failure of the Veteran to appear for a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU on an extra-schedular basis.

The Board has denied service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to service. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right knee disorder, lumbar spine disorder, asthma, and sleep apnea (secondary to asthma) due to additional development being needed.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. No service connection decisions were made.