Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of PTSD was granted, with a 50% evaluation effective September 27, 2011.,Claims for service connection for lumbar spine disability and bilateral tinnitus were denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran had a low back disability prior to entering active service and whether any current low back disorder is related to his military service.

The decision grants restoration of a rating for right knee tenosynovitis with limitation of extension and degenerative arthritis, but the reduction from 30 percent to noncompensable was not proper. The claims for service connection for low back disability, left knee disability, and entitlement to TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral degenerative disc disease associated with impairment of the right thigh is being remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Board requires a VA examiner to provide opinions regarding the etiology and aggravation of her lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability due to new and material evidence, but has remanded the claims for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and TDIU.

The Veteran's left knee condition was rated based on the limitation of flexion. The evidence does not show that his range of motion in his left knee was limited to 60 degrees or less prior to October 6, 2010.,For the period from December 1, 2011 to September 15, 2015, the Veteran is in receipt of the highest schedular rating for any disability of the left knee or leg in the absence of an amputation. The evidence does not show that his spine was ankylosed or he had Intervertebral Disc Syndrome (IVDS).

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, and his right knee instability and medial meniscus tear claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity and left upper extremity disabilities are granted with effective dates of February 27, 2006 and April 1, 2012 respectively. The Veteran is also awarded a 20 percent disability rating for her left lower extremity disability as of September 8, 2016.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current lower back and left knee disabilities are related to his service. The RO must provide a new VA examination to determine if these conditions exist, and if so, whether they are related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions and missing VA treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, finding no evidence of a nexus between his current disabilities and his active service or any incidents therein.

The Board has denied service connection for cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, tinnitus, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The case is remanded to obtain additional information regarding the Veteran's in-service stressors and to schedule a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back, right knee, and right ankle disorders due to inadequate examination reports and failure to consider secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, back disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), and sleep apnea. The claim for increased rating for history of hyperuricemia with recurrent gouty arthritis is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include back disability with sciatica, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), hypertension, gastrointestinal disorder, and erectile dysfunction.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an examination to determine if the Veteran's chronic renal condition, including Gitelman's syndrome, is related to service. The claim of entitlement to reopen the hypokalemia claim remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right foot disability has been reopened and granted. The claims for service connection for back disability and throat disability have not been reopened.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine, neck, seizure, and left shoulder disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to address issues related to lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and postoperative residuals of an incisional hernia.