Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims for service connection for back disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and PTSD. Service connection is granted for these conditions. The claim for cervical spine disability remains denied.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain and has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral knee condition due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including gout and low back condition, were denied. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to active service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The request to reopen the finally disallowed claim of entitlement to service connection for low back pain was denied.,The request to reopen the finally disallowed claim of entitlement to service connection for scars on left shoulder was denied. The request to reopen the finally disallowed claim of entitlement to service connection for scars on left upper chest was granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, back disability, and depression due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The case is being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's tension headaches are found to be related to his service-connected tinnitus and anxiety disorders.,The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder with panic disorder and major depressive disorder is found to be related to his service-connected tinnitus, left ankle injury, and anxiety disorders.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a back disability and left hip disorder, as well as the issue of a rating in excess of 10 percent for right lower extremity neurological impairment. The TDIU issue is also being remanded.

The Veteran's mild degenerative disc disease at L2-L3 and L3-L4 levels is granted as service-connected.,His left knee condition, right knee condition, and bilateral foot condition are denied as not related to his service.,His depression is granted as service-connected.,His sleep apnea is granted as service-connected.,His headaches are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's tinea pedis (bilateral feet) and PFB (previously rated noncompensable) are granted with a 30% rating effective June 25, 2012.

The Veteran's PTSD with panic attacks and alcohol use disorder is granted a 70 percent rating. The issues of service connection for lumbar spine disability and cervical spine strain are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination reports, and a new VA examination is needed.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder and lumbar disabilities, as well as secondary service connection for right and left lower extremity sciatica pain. The Veteran's current diagnoses are considered to be at least in equipoise with the opinions against his claims, leading to a grant of service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability is related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for a back disability.

The Board has remanded two claims for additional development: one regarding a lower back disability and the other regarding squamous cell carcinoma located on the left side of the nose. The decision on whether service connection is warranted remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to March 7, 2017 and from March 7, 2017 onwards.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment from December 1, 1993 to July 23, 1996. The Board granted a TDIU rating for this period.

The Veteran's neurogenic bladder is granted a 60% rating, effective March 10, 2009. The Veteran's PTSD and depression are granted a 70% rating from September 22, 2015. The right wrist disability claim has been reopened but not yet decided. The low back disability claim remains denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for onychomycosis, a lumbar spine disability, and bilateral foot cold weather injury.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was granted a 20 percent rating effective March 30, 2012. The left shoulder and lumbosacral spine disabilities were denied increased ratings.

The Board has denied service connection for a skin disorder, left knee disorder, low back disorder, and left shoulder interstitial granuloma. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not been properly evaluated, and additional evidence is needed to determine the current severity of his conditions.