Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including right shoulder DJD, left wrist DJD with limitation of motion, left shoulder DJD, back disorder, right eye disorder, gastrointestinal disorder (claimed as gastritis), skin disorder (claimed as rash on groin), diabetes mellitus, and pseudofolliculitis barbae.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim of service connection for left arm and hand numbness was denied. An effective date of January 2, 2017, was granted for an increased rating in the Veteran’s lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with disc bulging.,An effective date of January 2, 2017, was granted for a separate compensable rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy. An effective date prior to March 13, 2017, was denied for an increased rating in the Veteran’s cervical spine degenerative arthritis with disc protrusion and stenosis.,An effective date of March 13, 2017, was granted for a separate compensable rating for right arm nerve impingement. An effective date prior to March 13, 2017, was denied for an increased rating in the Veteran’s cervical spine degenerative arthritis with disc protrusion and stenosis.,A rating of more than 10 percent for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with disc bulging since January 2, 2017, and a rating of more than 10 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy since January 2, 2017, were denied.,A rating of 30 percent for GERD since March 13, 2017, and a rating of 50 percent for PTSD since March 13, 2017, were granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis related to an acquired psychiatric disorder, and thus service connection for this condition is denied.,The Veteran's left eye loss of visual acuity claim requires additional evidence as there are no current records showing a diagnosed condition.

Your claims for service connection have been reopened and are being reviewed on the merits.,The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received to reopen your previously denied claims of low back pain, cervical radiculopathy, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities due to new evidence submitted since the last denial. The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, but the effective dates are not specified. The ratings assigned for obesity and hypertension remain unchanged.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied as there is no evidence of unemployability prior to June 14, 2010.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for right knee, left knee, and lower back disabilities due to new evidence received since the final rating decisions. The claims are reopened but further medical examination is needed.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to substantiate the Veteran's claims for service connection of various disorders, including bilateral wrist disorder, low back disorder, neurological disorder of the lower extremities, right hip disorder, right leg disorder, and right foot disorder. The Veteran will be provided with examinations and records are sought from private providers.

The Veteran's attorney withdrew the appeal on all issues related to service connection and rating for various disabilities, including low back disability, arthritis, depression, restless leg syndrome, and residuals of syphilis.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus. The right shoulder disorder and lumbosacral strain issues are remanded.

The Veteran's low back disability is found to be secondary to his service-connected left femur fracture and total knee replacement, with the total hip arthroplasty.

Service connection is granted for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, left knee injury (now status post left total knee replacement), and chronic headaches.,The Veteran's bladder disability appeal was withdrawn during a hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as there is no evidence to support her assertions of in-service injury or a current disability related to military service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various disabilities, including back, right hip, and knee disabilities. The main reasons are the inability to determine if these conditions were incurred during active duty due to incomplete personnel records from the Air Force Reserve and Army National Guard, and the need for further examinations to assess whether current disabilities are secondary to service-connected foot and ankle disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, back disability, head injury with residual headaches and dizziness, sleep apnea, neuropathy, chronic pain disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred in or related to military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a right knee and right leg disability, left knee and left leg disability, and lower back disability due to lack of evidence establishing an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disability, vertigo, TBI, and migraine and tension headaches as there is no evidence that these conditions began during or are otherwise related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete development.

Service connection for eczema is granted. Service connection for acne vulgaris and arthritis and DDD of the thoracolumbar spine are denied.,Right ear hearing loss service connection is granted. The issues of left hand, right hand, sinusitis, left leg, and right leg disabilities are remanded.