Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

Service connection for left knee pain has been granted. The issues of service connection for lumbar spine disorder and right wrist disorder have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for mechanical low back pain and retropatellar pain syndrome of the left knee due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his failure to report for VA examinations and because of an earlier effective date claim. The claims will be remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an adequate retrospective opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability prior to July 10, 2017. The Veteran is presumed to be seeking the maximum allowable benefit and her claim remains in controversy.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected vertebral fracture with degenerative disc disease (DDD), status post laminectomy and fusion of the thoracolumbar spine, is denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher disability rating beyond 40 percent due to functional loss from pain, weakness, fatigue or incoordination.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and examination, as there are medical questions that need clarification.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the increased rating for lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his employment history and educational background. The Board will obtain additional VA medical records, request the Veteran's work history details, and provide a new VA medical opinion.

This decision grants initial compensable ratings for gout and degenerative arthritis, right ankle prior to April 8, 2016, and from April 8, 2016. It also grants an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for gout and degenerative arthritis, left ankle. The decision denies initial compensable ratings for degenerative arthritis, left shoulder prior to April 8, 2016, and from April 8, 2016, as well as a higher rating for right shoulder rotator cuff tear with degenerative arthritis.,Entitlement to an increased initial rating in excess of 30 percent for residual scars, pilonidal cyst excision, low back, coccyx area, right shoulder x4, and bilateral feet is granted.

The Veteran's back disorder, to include degenerative arthritis of the spine, is related to service and granted. The issues for arthritis, depression, and neck disorders are remanded.

The Board finds that there is insufficient evidence to establish service connection for any of the claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic degenerative low back disability with disc herniation is related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, increased ratings for various knee and ankle disabilities, a compensable rating for bilateral pes planus, and an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for hypothyroidism. The claims are being remanded to allow for further development including VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder has been reopened, but the Board finds that there is insufficient evidence to grant service connection. The case is remanded for further development and an addendum VA opinion.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on various conditions have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded several issues including service connection claims.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain disability is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition. The issue of entitlement to individual unemployability is also being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate previous opinions regarding whether the Veteran's lumbosacral spine DJD is aggravated by her service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Board denied service connection for a low back condition, right foot condition, and chronic headache condition. The evidence did not support the Veteran's claims that these conditions were related to his military service.,The VA examiner provided opinions against the Veteran's claims, noting no clear link between current diagnoses and service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claims. The appeal regarding a schedular rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar strain was also dismissed.