Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's back disability is currently rated at 40 percent, but no higher. The claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for the back disability is denied.,An initial rating of 40 percent, but no higher, for right leg sciatica secondary to service-connected back disability prior to January 25, 2012, is granted. A rating of 20 percent, but no higher, from January 25, 2012, to May 22, 2016, is also granted.,A rating in excess of 20 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to service-connected back disability is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause his death from Parkinson's disease. The Board denied the claim as there was no evidence that any of his service-connected disabilities contributed to his death.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including generalized arthritis disorder, bilateral elbow disorders, bilateral hand disorders, a back disorder, hypertension, skin cancer, and head disorder. The effective dates for the grants of service connection were not earlier than September 18, 2013.,An initial compensable rating was denied for hearing loss and an increased rating for tinnitus was also denied.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease has been granted service connection and a rating of 30 percent.,Prior to December 29, 2006, the Veteran's left shoulder arthritis was rated at 30 percent. After that date, his left shoulder replacement surgery is rated at 50 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type II, lumbar spine disability, bilateral knee disability, and an acquired psychological disorder (including PTSD and depression) are all granted. The Veteran is also granted a compensable rating for his right ear hearing loss disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is secondary to his service-connected lumbosacral strain with spondylosis and degenerative disc disease.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's back disability and memory loss.

The Board has remanded three separate claims for additional development due to the need for updated treatment records and VA examinations. The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities are being evaluated further.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability is etiologically related to his in-service injuries, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, back disorder, right foot disorder, sleep disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran was scheduled to appear at a hearing but failed to show up without good cause.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities including left shoulder, right shoulder, back, left knee, and bilateral eye conditions due to a lack of current diagnoses or functional impairment.

The Veteran's claims of increased ratings for his service-connected lumbosacral intervertebral disc syndrome with grade 1 spondylolisthesis of L5-S1 and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and increased ratings on multiple conditions has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional medical records from Dr. Lozman.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for his TDIU and CUE, finding no clear and unmistakable error in the April 1999 rating decision.

The Board has denied service connection for cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities, finding that the evidence does not support a link between these conditions and active service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's lower back, bilateral hip, and bilateral knee disabilities. The claims of service connection for these conditions are not addressed in this decision.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed due to the inadequacy of the April 2013 VA examination and the need for new opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right ankle, right hip, left knee, and low back conditions.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent effective August 23, 2018. The rating for his femoral radiculopathy remains at 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and remanded the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, anxiety, and depression) and residuals of Bell's palsy (secondary to an acquired psychiatric disability).