Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for back, bilateral hip, left knee, and right knee disabilities as secondary to his service-connected ankylosing spondylitis.

The Veteran's left arm numbness is granted as secondary to his service-connected left shoulder disability.,A 20 percent rating for the Veteran’s left shoulder disability is granted effective November 13, 2008.

The Veteran's low back disability was granted a rating of 40 percent as of November 6, 2017. Prior to this date, the disability was rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling. The Board denied an increased evaluation, finding that the evidence did not show limitation of motion to less than 15 degrees in forward flexion or a combined range of motion less than 170 degrees.,Service connection for sleep apnea was denied because there was no medical evidence linking it to the service-connected cervical spine disability. The Board found that the Veteran's sleep apnea is more likely due to other factors such as age, weight, and family history.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining relevant VA treatment records and a DBQ from the Veteran's treating physician. The issues of service connection for low back disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU are all inextricably intertwined with the low back claim.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for a back disability, but denied the claim as there is no evidence that the Veteran's current condition began in service or is otherwise related to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, migraine headaches, and seizure disorder. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his service-connected upper back disability is being remanded due to insufficient findings from a previous VA examination. He will be scheduled for another VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Board has directed a remand to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability, including consideration of his service injury and post-service treatment.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee and low back disabilities, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his military service. The claims were reopened due to new evidence showing current diagnoses of arthritis in both knees and degenerative changes in the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 20 percent, and his radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is also rated at 20 percent. The Veteran's PTSD remains rated at 50 percent prior to January 5, 2017, but not for a higher rating beginning that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for an increased evaluation and TDIU based on his lumbar spine disability must be remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD has been withdrawn.,The claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome (low back disability), stomach disability, esophagus disability, and cervical spine disability are remanded for further development.,The Veteran's appeal for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for residuals of a left total knee replacement is remanded.,The Veteran's appeal for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for anxiety disorder prior to February 27, 2017, and in excess of 50 percent thereafter is remanded.,The Veteran's appeal for entitlement to a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded.

The Board granted service connection for a cyst along the left posterior inferior glenohumeral joint with irregularity of the posterior labrum and chronic left shoulder pain, tinnitus, and right knee strain and chondromalacia. The back disability was denied as there is no current evidence of a back disability.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. Service connection is being remanded for low back and left knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for a low back disability, as it is unclear whether the Veteran's current condition was caused or aggravated by his service-connected knee and hip disabilities. Additional medical opinions are needed to clarify this issue.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for bilateral tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric disorder, but the issues of low back disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and polyneuropathies of fingertips are being remanded due to inadequate examination findings.

The Veteran's claims for clothing allowances were denied as the topical anti-inflammatory cream and back brace did not meet the criteria for a clothing allowance under VA regulations.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was found to not meet the criteria for a higher than 10 percent rating prior to August 5, 2015; and not meet the criteria for a higher than 20 percent or 40 percent rating from August 5, 2015 to August 11, 2016. The appeal is denied.