Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, right knee, and right hip disorders, as well as a respiratory disorder. The VA will obtain medical records and schedule examinations to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar strain with IVDS prior to July 10, 2014, is denied. A rating of 60 percent, but no more, for lumbar strain with IVDS since July 10, 2014, is granted. The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, ulcers, and erectile dysfunction are REMANDED.

The Veteran's bilateral foot fungus is related to military service and granted. The issues of low back disability, right knee disability, asthma, sleep apnea, and acquired psychiatric disability are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's GERD/hiatal hernia is rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board finds that the criteria for a higher rating are not met. For his left knee and upper back disabilities, remand is required to obtain additional medical opinions regarding their relationship to service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding his claimed musculoskeletal disorders and hearing loss. The VA will need to obtain additional medical opinions addressing the relationship between these conditions and active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and a right ankle condition, as well as his claim for TDIU. The remand is due to insufficient examinations and the need for updated VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including left and right knee disabilities, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, back disability, hip disabilities, ankle disabilities, sleep apnea, inguinal hernia, psychiatric disorders, and dyslipidemia. The appeals are pending due to insufficient evidence or need for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbar spine, left knee, left ankle, and eye disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their onset in service or relationship to service.

The Board has determined that additional medical examinations and opinions are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral hip disability, left shoulder disability, low back disability, bilateral flat feet, bilateral eye disability (claimed as due to blunt trauma), and skin disability (pseudofolliculitis barbae).

The Board has granted service connection for gout, but the claims for back disability, right elbow disability, left ankle disability, and groin strain disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition was denied due to lack of evidence linking the current condition to military service. The new and material evidence submitted did not provide such evidence.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was denied as there was no evidence showing it was related to his service-connected post-traumatic headaches or any other aspect of his military service.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the highest level of aid and attendance was denied as he does not meet the legal criteria for such benefit under 38 U.S.C. § 1114 (r).

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a low back disability due to insufficient evidence and need for further development, including an examination.

The Veteran withdrew his service connection claims for a sleep disorder and a lumbar spine disorder before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as service-connected. The initial compensable rating for lumbar degenerative disc disease, left knee disability, right ankle degenerative joint disease, and erectile dysfunction are all denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, right lower extremity sensory dysfunction, and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to additional relevant evidence being associated with his file. He is scheduled for VA examinations and a supplemental statement of the case will be provided.

The Veteran's TBI residuals and low back disability are both rated at 10 percent, with the decision denying any higher ratings.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has granted new evidence sufficient to reopen his claims of left hand arthritis, right hand arthritis, a lower back condition, and a chin injury. The claim for residuals of a right great toe fracture is denied. Other claims are remanded for further examination.

The Board has granted an effective date of November 18, 2010 for the assignment of a separate 10 percent rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity as a neurological manifestation of service-connected DDD of the lumbar spine.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine DJD and IVDS, left knee DJD, right knee DJD, and right ankle tendonitis as they did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA rating criteria.