Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion regarding his sleep apnea and scars. The TDIU claim is also raised.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of tinnitus is dismissed. The claim to reopen service connection for a low back disability is allowed, but the case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected migraines are now rated at 50 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The claims for increased ratings for cervical strain and thoracolumbar strain remain pending, as does the claim for an increased rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evidence. The initial evaluation for cervical spine disability remains denied, while an initial evaluation higher than 20 percent for lumbar spine disability is remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to insufficient evidence or inadequate examinations.

The Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, is considered to have started in service and has continued since then. The Board found that there was a continuity of symptoms from service to present day, meeting one of the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a lower back condition and movement disorder/seizures, as well as the issue of reopening a claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all outstanding VA treatment records from May 2015 forward and provide an addendum medical opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's erectile dysfunction, finding that it is proximately due to his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine.

The Board has denied service connection for viral mononucleosis and remanded the claims for low back disability, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever/Lyme disease, scar on chin due to shrapnel wound, cellulitis, thyroid condition, and type II diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's claims are now pending again with the VA.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to May 5, 2010, meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and bilateral lower extremity sciatica are linked to his active service, with the private medical opinion suggesting that his service-connected knee disabilities caused or aggravated these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the Veteran's service-connected low back disorder and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has granted the Veteran's applications to reopen his claims for service connection for a back disability and a psychiatric disability, including depression. The reopened claims are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded two issues: entitlement to service connection for an upper back disorder and entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee strain. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine the nature and severity of his service-connected right knee disorder, as well as the etiology of his back disability.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a bilateral knee disability and higher ratings for hypertension and lumbar disability have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient information provided by his private physician regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities. The examination must address whether any current disability is related to active service, including physical training and injuries sustained during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current VA examinations do not reflect the severity of his service-connected disabilities and therefore, new examinations are needed to determine appropriate disability ratings.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various disabilities, including left shoulder, right shoulder, low back, left elbow, right elbow, left hand, and right hand disabilities. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee is also being remanded due to a lack of recent VA examination findings.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and evaluation, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the Veteran's low back disability. The TDIU issue is also being referred to the Director of Compensation Service.