Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's heart attack treatment at Bryan Medical Center was eligible for VA reimbursement as it occurred during an emergency and prior authorization was granted within 72 hours of admission.

The Veteran is unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to her service-connected low back degenerative disc disease with bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, exercise-induced asthma, and chronic right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened and granted. The Board found new and material evidence to support the reopening of his claims, including treatment records indicating a diagnosis of PTSD. Secondary service connection was also granted for GERD. Other issues were remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, sleep apnea, left shoulder condition, low back condition, bilateral hip condition, bilateral shin splints, and right thigh condition (secondary to low back) have been granted. The remaining issues of service connection for these conditions are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability claimed as back arthritis, but has remanded his claims for bilateral hip degenerative changes and seborrheic dermatitis (claimed as psoriasis) due to insufficient information in previous examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and clarification of the Veteran's claims, particularly regarding his cervical spine disorder and thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for post-concussive headaches prior to July 28, 2015 was denied. A 50 percent rating is granted since that date. The appeal is mixed as some issues were granted and others were denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for lower back disorder, neck disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder, pneumonia, upper extremities disorder, lower extremities disorder, bones and joints disorder, dizziness, GERD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and erectile dysfunction. Additional development is needed to obtain complete service records and private medical records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a head injury, previously characterized as headaches, was reopened. The Board found new and material evidence to support the reopening of this claim. Service connection is granted for bilateral knee disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, right hand disorder, and back disorder. However, service connection for residuals of flesh wound of the right leg is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and an opinion regarding whether her service-connected disabilities render her permanently and totally disabled.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has ordered a remand to obtain private chiropractic records for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for gastrointestinal, lower back, and erectile dysfunction conditions due to insufficient evidence or need for further examination.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and a left hip disorder (secondary to a lumbar spine disorder) need further development due to incomplete records.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for her lumbar spine disability and TDIU are both remanded due to the need for additional examinations and a determination by the Director of Compensation Service regarding whether she is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's disability rating for degenerative changes with strain, lumbar spine is denied as his condition does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient opinions regarding his lumbar spine disability and bilateral knee disabilities, as well as the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has denied service connection for multiple musculoskeletal disabilities, including right shoulder, left shoulder, back, right knee, left knee, right shin splints, left shin splints, right hand, and left hand disabilities. The claims are based on the Veteran's active duty service in Afghanistan.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including back condition, dental condition, left hip condition, right hip condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, and bilateral foot condition, all related to contaminated water exposure at Camp Lejeune. The evidence did not support a current diagnosis of any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine with spondylolisthesis of L5-S1 is remanded due to inadequate examination and failure to address flare-ups.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional VA examination and treatment records, as the Veteran underwent surgery since his last VA examination in July 2017.