Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's back disorder is secondary to his service-connected left leg condition and to clarify the etiology of the mild scoliosis noted at discharge.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and lower back disabilities, finding that there was no evidence to support a secondary relationship between these conditions and his service-connected right leg disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disorder of the lumbar spine, sleep apnea, and colitis. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and active service.,There is no credible evidence linking any current disabilities to military service.

The Veteran's combined evaluation of 40 percent for service-connected disabilities assigned in a November 2013 rating decision is denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for a back injury, which resulted in the grant of service connection for degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's tinnitus and ulcers of the legs and feet are granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. Service connection for a low back disability, neck disability, and bilateral knee disabilities is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee conditions, as well as his chronic low back pain, are related to his active duty service. The Board also found that there is at least a 50% probability that the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected low back strain and residuals of left foot fracture, as well as an examination to determine the etiology of his bilateral shoulder disabilities. The claims will be readjudicated after this development.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current low back condition, including whether it is caused by or aggravated by his service-connected diabetic peripheral neuropathy disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD was remanded.,Service connection for Degenerative Disc Disease of the Thoracic and Lumbar Spines was denied, as the evidence did not support a finding that the condition began during service or was caused by service.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded for additional medical evaluation and consideration of his cervical spine disability, as he reported worsening symptoms since the last VA examination over five years ago.

The Veteran's initial claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine was received on November 10, 1983. The effective date for this award is set at November 10, 1983.,The Veteran's initial claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine was also received on November 10, 1983. The effective date for this award is set at November 10, 1983.,The Veteran's initial rating for allergic rhinitis was granted in October 29, 2004 and increased to 10 percent from July 13, 1994 and to 30 percent from November 6, 2006.

Service connection is granted for thoracolumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, left knee disorder, skin disorder on the right hand, and right foot disorder.,Service connection is denied for cephalgia as it is not secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for her lumbar spine disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination that complies with Correia v. McDonald.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the claims of service connection, increased ratings, and TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the right ear hearing loss issue. The remaining claims were denied as there is no legal basis for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of her service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain and chronic cervical spine strain disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition and CTS of the right hand/wrist have been reopened, but new evidence does not establish that these conditions are related to his military service.,Tinnitus was not found to be incurred in service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hip disability and lumbar spine disability, but remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's initial rating for lumbar degenerative disc disease and IVDS was granted at a 20 percent level, effective prior to May 13, 2015. A separate 20 percent rating was also granted for left lower extremity sciatica.