Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbosacral strain is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess the severity of his disability, including pain on range of motion testing and an estimation of functional loss during flare-ups.

The Board denied service connection for a low back condition and remanded the issues of service connection for right hip and knee conditions, as well as assigning a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disorder is reopened, and the case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's disability rating for lumbosacral strain was reduced from 40% to 20%, but the RO restored the 40% rating effective October 1, 2015.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and denied increased ratings for lumbosacral spondylosis, left lower radiculopathy, and right lower radiculopathy. The Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service as there is no evidence of it within one year post-service. His lumbosacral spondylosis did not result in incapacitating episodes requiring bed rest, so a higher rating could not be granted.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional medical opinions to determine if the Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, and myasthenia gravis disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's back disability prior to May 7, 2015 and remanded the case for further development. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

Service connection is granted for a left knee disorder, right knee disorder, back disorder, and lumbar radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.,The Veteran's tinnitus has been rated at its maximum schedular rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new VA opinion is required.

The Board denied service connection for low back, neck, and right shoulder disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or the Gulf War.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and obtaining treatment records.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a finding that the Veteran's current degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine was incurred or aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities, finding insufficient evidence to support a relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 40 percent, effective November 28, 2018. The Board finds that a higher rating is warranted for this condition.

The Veteran's lumbar spine osteoarthritis is granted as incurred in service.,The Veteran's right fourth toe arthroplasty disability has been rated based on the Amputation Rule and no higher rating can be assigned.,Service connection for hypertension is granted, but a compensable rating cannot be assigned due to pre-existing conditions.,A VA eye examination will be scheduled to determine the current level of severity of the Veteran's left eye pterygium.

The Veteran's current degenerative disc disease and arthritis of the lumbar spine are related to his military service, specifically combat operations in Vietnam. The Board granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine spondylosis and bilateral hearing loss, as well as his claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with alcohol use disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's back disability is currently rated at 40 percent, and the claim for an evaluation in excess of 40 percent has been denied. The claims for a sleep disorder and TDIU have also been denied.

The Veteran's request to reconsider service connection for a left hip disability is granted. The claim will be reconsidered, but the criteria for service connection are not met.

The Board denied service connection for lower back and bilateral knee conditions, but granted service connection for sleep apnea, headaches, and toenail condition. The rating assigned for tinnitus is 10%. Service connection was also granted for PTSD with a TDIU determination.