Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and consideration, including service connection claims for various conditions and a TDIU rating. The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder (also claimed as a neck condition) due to lack of new and material evidence, despite showing worsening degenerative joint disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his knee and lumbar spine conditions, as well as service connection for hepatitis C. The claims are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development.

The Board has granted the reopening of the Veteran's claim for service connection for back condition and denied service connection for depression. The Board also remanded the issues regarding left hand tremor and right hand tremor for further development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches as secondary to his service-connected PTSD and cervical spine disability. The VA examiner found that the Veteran’s current headaches were not due to, or a result of, his in-service headaches but acknowledged a possible link between his service-connected PTSD or cervical spine disabilities and his headaches.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current hearing loss or a back disability for which service connection can be granted. The decision is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and to ensure all relevant records are obtained.

The Board has decided to remand two claims for further development due to the Veteran's assertion that his back condition continues to deteriorate and requires surgery since his last VA examination. The claims are related to degenerative disc disease (DDD) and facet arthropathy with laminectomy, as well as neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and remanded the issues of initial rating for cervical spine disability, service connection for upper extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for meralgia paresthetica of the left leg, but remanded the issue of a higher evaluation for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back and neck disabilities due to insufficient opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is rated at 20 percent since August 25, 2017. The appeal for a higher rating is denied.

The Board has decided to remand two issues related to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis of the cervical spine due to a lack of recent VA examination records.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine has been dismissed because the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and degenerative joint disease of bilateral knees, finding that these conditions began during or are etiologically related to an in-service injury from falling out of a truck in July 1980.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate medical opinions and inextricably intertwined issues.

The Veteran's claims for otitis media, tinnitus, and skin disability are granted. The claim for low back disability is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability as secondary to his service-connected left knee and low back disabilities, finding that there is no evidence linking the right knee condition to these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and examinations.,A VA examination is required to determine if the Veteran’s chronic kidney disease is related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 40 percent, but the Board finds that he does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as there are no documented incapacitating episodes of intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) lasting six weeks or more in the past year.

The Veteran's lumbar strain is currently rated at 40 percent, which does not meet the criteria for an increased rating as there was no unfavorable ankylosis of the thoracolumbar spine.