Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of jaw dislocation and back disorder, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a right hip disability and granted a 30 percent rating for allergic rhinitis with hypertrophic turbinates. The claims for service connection for left hip disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depression), osteoarthritis and limitation of flexion of the right knee, osteoarthritis and limitation of motion of the left knee, and intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine are all remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left knee meniscus surgery, right knee meniscus surgery, and low back disability due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including hepatitis C and its secondary effects. The rating for hemorrhoids was also denied.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for bilateral hip disability, shoulder and elbow disabilities, low back disability, neck disability with upper right extremity neuropathy, spine disability with joint degeneration, hearing loss, erectile dysfunction, staph infection, carpal tunnel syndrome, and sleep apnea. The remand also includes a request to obtain Social Security Administration records and an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted as service-connected.,Tinnitus has been denied for an earlier effective date prior to June 25, 2012, and a rating in excess of 10 percent remains denied.,Service connection for bilateral lower extremity disability (including arthritis), bilateral shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, and lower back disability is remanded due to the need for further examination and evaluation.

The Board has remanded both issues due to the need for additional medical examination and development of evidence.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed low back, left hip, right hip, and right knee disabilities as well as his depression, all of which are alleged to be secondary to a nonservice-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and information.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome and right lower extremity intervertebral disc syndrome are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a back disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between his current back condition and his military service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and depressive disorder NOS are found to be secondary to his service-connected disabilities, specifically his knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted. The claim for thoracolumbar spine disorder is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent prior to July 22, 2015. The Board has granted a maximum schedular rating for the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is related to his active duty service as a pilot, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraines, low back disability, and other conditions, are sufficient to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and right hand disability secondary to a service-connected right wrist ganglion cyst. The Veteran's current conditions are not considered service connected.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability, sleep apnea, and major depressive disorder due to incomplete records from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and inconsistent reports within the record regarding these conditions. The VA will need to obtain SSA records and schedule the Veteran for examinations to address inconsistencies in his diagnoses.

The Board has restored a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected herniated L5-S1 lumbar disc, status post discectomy and anterior spinal fusion with plate and two screws from January 1, 2010 through February 19, 2017. The evidence did not show sustained improvement in the disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and a right knee disorder, finding that there is no evidence showing these conditions are related to her military service or any service-connected disabilities.