Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is remanded due to the need for a new examination and consideration of additional VA treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a rib injury/chest contusion and his TDIU claim because there is no evidence of current disability related to the in-service injury. The combined rating for his service-connected disabilities does not meet the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board dismissed the appeal of service connection for diabetes mellitus, denied service connection for low back disability and right knee disability, and denied service connection for sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a low back condition, increased ratings for migraine headaches, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and residuals of a left hip strain due to incomplete development. The Veteran needs to provide authorization for VA to obtain private medical records and an additional VA examination is required.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, low back disability, left knee chondromalacia with subluxation, right small finger degenerative arthritis, upper and mid dorsal spine limitation of extension, and residual surgical scar of the right knee, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for low back and neck/upper back disabilities due to insufficient evidence. The cases are being reviewed again.

The Board has granted the reopening of the claim for service connection for mechanical low back pain and herniated disc L4-L5, finding new and material evidence. The issue of service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's abdominal symptoms and/or low back pain during his second period of active service are related to or caused/contributed substantially or materially to his pancreatic cancer.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and restored the Veteran's 40 percent rating for lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritic changes. The appeal regarding the propriety of reducing the 40 percent rating to 20 percent is dismissed as moot due to the grant of service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bowel and bladder conditions, as well as increased ratings for lumbar spine disability prior to February 1, 2011, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis or relationship between the claimed conditions and service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for a low back disability and a compensable rating for kidney stone residuals.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 50% rating effective October 29, 2012. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his low back disorder was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on functional loss due to pain and limitation of motion.,Service connection for arthritis, claimed as secondary to the service-connected low back disability, was also denied. The VA examiner indicated there is no diagnosis of arthritis in the record.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and left leg numbness/radiculopathy, finding that the conditions were not related to military service or service-connected knee arthritis.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is not service-connected and was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected condition.,Degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine was not rated higher than 10 percent prior to May 17, 2018. From May 17, 2018 onwards, it warrants a rating of at least 40 percent.

The Board denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis/Reiter's syndrome of the bilateral knees and arthritis (other than of bilateral knees and ankles, and lumbar spine) as there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further examination and review of records, including SSA records. The examiner is requested to determine if any current low back disability is related to the Veteran's documented congenital spondylolisthesis condition or was superimposed over it during service.

The Veteran's abdominal muscle strain claim is dismissed. Service connection for back, right knee, and left knee disabilities is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder was reopened, and he is now rated at 70 percent for PTSD. His TDIU claim is also granted.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 10 percent prior to January 8, 2018 and at 20 percent thereafter. The right lower extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 20 percent.,Service connection for persistent depressive disorder was remanded.