Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for DDD of the lumbar spine, status post fracture of the nose with septorhinoplasty, and neuropathy of the left lower extremity have all been denied by the Board.

The Veteran's claim to reopen his PTSD service connection is granted, and the appeal for service connection of lumbar spine disabilities as secondary to left knee disability is also granted. The Board finds that new evidence received raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left leg and knee disorders, left hip osteoarthritis, right hip disorder, and low back condition. The claims were either not reopened or found to lack new and material evidence.

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral and right knee disabilities due to lack of evidence showing a link between the conditions and service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to their death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient reasoning in a previous VA examination and uncertainty about whether the Veteran's current back condition is related to his military service. The case will be reconsidered with new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and PTSD, render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran withdrew his appeal on the issues of entitlement to service connection for gallstones, anxiety disorder, low back pain, hyperlipidemia, and a fatty liver.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for pulmonary tuberculosis and remanded the remaining issues to obtain additional VA treatment records, address the Veteran's assertions regarding his psychiatric disorder, hearing loss, tinnitus, and low back disability, and schedule appropriate examinations.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of service connection for irregular menstrual periods, respiratory disorder, low back disability, fibromyalgia, skin disability (manifested by fractured teeth), and temporomandibular joint articulation disorder. The Veteran's low back disability is related to her period of active service. Fibromyalgia is also related to her period of active service. A skin disability did not have its clinical onset in service or during any applicable presumptive period, but it is otherwise related to active service. Service connection for PTSD has been granted with an initial 50 percent rating from June 30, 2009, to October 8, 2013.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder and cervical spine disorder were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The claim for a low back disorder was previously denied due to preexisting condition aggravation, and no new evidence has been provided to reopen this claim.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection of low back, right knee, chest injury, and headaches.,There is insufficient medical evidence linking any current disabilities to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA examinations and clarifying the nature of the Appellant's National Guard service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder, including obstructive sleep apnea as due to an undiagnosed illness is denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have an independent diagnosis of a sleep disorder and his chronic sleep impairment is related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a lumbar condition, which she contends is secondary to her service-connected epilepsy. The Board has requested additional medical opinions and development of the record in order to address these issues.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records and provide a VA examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for frostbite of the hands and feet, depression, a low back disability, and epistaxis. However, the preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Board has ordered a remand to clarify the relationship between the Veteran's current low back condition and his service, including whether it was aggravated by service. The examiner is asked to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's current low back condition is related to his in-service leg length discrepancy.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and granted it as secondary to her service-connected right knee disability. The evidence now shows that the Veteran's current back condition is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by her service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including small bowel resection, pelvic inflammatory disease, major depressive disorder, and other conditions, rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to her education and occupational experience.