Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability has been reopened due to new and material evidence. The Board finds that the current low back disability is related to active duty service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for a low back disability, but dismissed the appeal seeking to reopen his claim of service connection for residuals of bilateral foot frost bite.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is granted an increased rating to 70 percent.,The Veteran is granted entitlement to Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and bilateral hip condition, finding no evidence of in-service injury or relationship to service. Service connection was granted for PTSD.,PTSD was found to be related to the Veteran's military experiences and fear of hostile activity during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition including a muscle strain and degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the lumbar and thoracic spine with IVDS have been granted. The Board found that there was sufficient evidence to support these claims, considering the Veteran's consistent assertions of continuous symptoms since service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbar spine DDD is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and evaluation of his lower extremity numbness.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss, cervical spine degenerative joint disease, low back (post-herniated nucleus), and primary open angle glaucoma. The cases are remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and to schedule the Veteran for examinations.

The Board has denied service connection for a sinus disorder, rheumatoid arthritis with chronic joint pain, and a back disorder. The bilateral shoulder disorder appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board denied entitlement to service connection for a disability of the lumbar spine secondary to service-connected bilateral foot disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected right ankle DJD, right foot DJD with spurs, and/or left foot DJD with spurs.

The Board found that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disorder did not manifest during service and is not otherwise related to service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for left ankle degenerative joint disease, bilateral wrist disability, and bilateral knee disability as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service.,The Board also denied service connection for low back disability due to insufficient evidence showing a relationship between the current condition and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a back disorder and left leg disorder due to insufficient evidence in the February 2017 VA examination. The examiner is asked to provide opinions on whether the conditions are related to service, pre-existed service, or were aggravated by service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea, head injury, left hand disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The ratings for the left shoulder, right shoulder, cervical strain, and lumbar spine disabilities were also remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder and elbow DJD, lumbar spine DDD, and cervical spine DDD. The appeal of his increased rating claims are dismissed.

The Veteran's thoracic spine disability is being remanded for additional examination and review of the record to determine if a higher rating can be granted.

The Veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 20 percent, but a higher rating is not warranted as his disability does not meet the criteria for an increased rating. The Veteran also seeks TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities, but this is denied as he does not meet the percentage requirements and there is no evidence of unemployability due to his service-connected disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for additional examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, which is secondary to her service-connected degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine. The remand requires obtaining relevant VA and private treatment records since August 2017 and forwarding the claims file to a VA physician for an addendum opinion considering the May 2008 private treatment diagnosis.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for scoliosis as secondary to service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and for an increased rating for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine due to a lack of recent VA examination.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various conditions, including back condition, cataracts, hearing loss, tinnitus, sinus disability, hypertension, stomach condition (including dysmenorrhea), sickle cell anemia, thyroid disease, and psychiatric disabilities. The Veteran's claims are pending further development.

The Veteran's current diagnosis of panic disorder began during active service and is granted service connection.