Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for generalized arthritis condition, left shoulder arthritis, right shoulder arthritis, and back condition due to inadequate examinations that did not address whether his service-connected frostbite residuals caused or aggravated these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for left ankle disability due to the lack of evidence of a current diagnosis. The lower back disability claim is remanded for additional development and medical inquiry.

Service connection is granted for COPD and an acquired psychiatric disability (anxiety disorder and bipolar disorder). The Veteran's lung condition, claimed as asbestosis, is also service-connected. Other claims are denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and secondary service connection are remanded due to the need for updated examinations to assess the current severity of his knee disabilities, as well as their impact on other disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as being proximately due to or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected PTSD. The other conditions have been denied.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure, and the Veteran's other claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's employment history prior to June 27, 2017. The issues of TDIU and increased rating for lumbar spine disability are currently in remand status.

The Veteran's low back scar is currently rated as noncompensable. The Board has ordered a VA examination to assess the current level of severity of her service-connected low back scar.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of TDIU due to lack of evidence showing a worsening in the year prior to the claim and no indication that the Veteran filed any claims before January 7, 2016.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, increased ratings for neck and low back disabilities, and earlier effective dates for radiculopathy of the arms and legs are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been remanded by the Board.,His current service-connected conditions include right ear hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is granted as his condition is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the issue of the Veteran's entitlement to a TDIU prior to May 5, 2016 due to insufficient evidence. The matter is now referred to the Director of Compensation for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU rating.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's back disability and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and sleep apnea. The decision found no evidence to support these claims.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including lumbar spine disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, neck disability, cervical radiculopathy, and left knee disability. The reasons given were that the evidence did not show a nexus between these disabilities and active service.

The Board has denied service connection for low back and respiratory disorders, but has remanded the cases of left foot disorder and TMJ due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for back and right shoulder disabilities as there was no evidence of an in-service injury or condition that could have caused the current disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbar spine disability is denied. The current rating of 20% is maintained from November 26, 2014 to June 18, 2018.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right and left wrist conditions, bilateral foot conditions, and back disability due to a lack of current disabilities as defined by VA regulations. The claim was not remanded or reopened.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder was denied in September 2009. The Board has reopened the claim due to new and material evidence, but has also remanded it for further development.