Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations to assess his lumbar spine disability and acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability was initially rated at 10 percent prior to August 8, 2014, and increased to 20 percent thereafter.,The Veteran's residuals of right ankle sprain were initially rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an annual VA clothing allowance due to the use of Biofreeze topical analgesic was denied as it is not prescribed for a skin condition due to any service-connected disability.,The Veteran's claim for an annual VA clothing allowance due to her back brace was also denied because the VAMC determined that the model of back brace with Velcro fasteners does not qualify as a qualifying appliance for purposes of awarding a clothing allowance.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to address the severity of his low back disability and any flare-ups. The case will be returned to the Board for further review.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a heart condition is denied. The February 1979 rating decision reducing the back disability rating from 40% to 20% is not subject to revision on the basis of clear and unmistakable error. TDIU is granted effective October 31, 2012.

The Veteran's hair loss, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral knee disability, back disability, and left shoulder disability have been granted service connection. The rating for tinnitus has also been granted at a maximum schedular rating of 10 percent.

The Veteran seeks service connection for sciatica and intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine, both claimed as secondary to his service-connected flat foot. The Board finds that additional development is needed due to inadequate previous opinions.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The Veteran's claims of service connection are not supported by the available evidence.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and examination, including service connection claims for a back condition, hypertension, onychomycosis, and an acquired psychiatric disability. The Veteran's treatment records indicate he has complained of these conditions since 2007.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability as the evidence does not show that it began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and a need for additional VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for a right hip disorder due to lack of evidence supporting the claim. The case is remanded for further development and examination regarding the Veteran's left knee disability, including its impact on his low back disorder.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records. The current service-connected condition, coronary artery disease (CAD), may prevent him from working.

The Veteran's residuals of fractured T-5, T-12 and L-1 are granted a 20 percent rating prior to December 19, 2017. The Veteran's degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine is granted a 20 percent rating from December 19, 2017.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected knee disability and his claimed hip and back conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to June 10, 2008 was denied as the evidence did not show that he had difficulty obtaining and retaining employment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease with sacroiliitis of the lumbar spine is rated at 20 percent, effective as of May 18, 2018. The other conditions remain at noncompensable ratings.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar strain and right ankle sprain, as well as his claim for TDIU, are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and retrospective opinions.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is rated at 40 percent, and his left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are each rated at 10 percent. The appeal for a higher rating remains pending.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back condition and a neck condition need further examination and evidence collection, as there are insufficient medical records to make an informed decision.