Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection, as is his lumbar spine disability at a 10% rating. The right leg radiculopathy remains at a 10% rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for joint pain in the hands and feet, low back disorder, and depression due to potential outstanding private treatment records. The claim for diabetes mellitus remains denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability more closely approximates unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine, granting a 100% rating for the period prior to November 16, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has added over 300 pages of VA treatment records to the claims file, which may be relevant to the Veteran's appeals. The AOJ needs to review this new evidence and issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case before making a decision on the issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a bilateral hand condition, low back condition, and bilateral knee condition due to outstanding VA treatment records and need for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left arm nerve disability was granted, and she is now rated at 40% for her low back disability. The rating for the low back disability remains at 40% prior to April 4, 2013, but increases to higher than 40% from that date.

The Veteran's lumbar strain and right knee strain were evaluated at a 10% rating. The Board found that the evidence did not meet criteria for higher ratings based on functional loss due to pain, guarding, or localized tenderness.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his lumbar spine condition and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private medical records.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his lumbosacral spine osteoarthritis with degenerative disc disease was denied prior to August 12, 2016. From August 12, 2016 to October 27, 2016, he received a 20% rating for the condition. After that date, his claim for an increased rating was denied.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a bilateral foot condition, an unspecified joint condition, and a back condition due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's claims are currently pending.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, finding that the evidence did not establish an in-service injury or disease and that any current condition is not related to military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability has been reopened and is remanded. The issues of increased ratings for left ulnar and triceps nerve entrapment, bilateral toenail dysfunction, and left elbow surgical scar are also remanded.,The effective date for the grant of service connection for left ulnar and triceps nerve entrapments was not earlier than March 14, 2014. The effective date for an increased rating for bilateral toenail dysfunction was not prior to November 26, 2013.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's lumbar strain disability, including her service in Kuwait. The Veteran is requested to provide additional records and a VA examination will be scheduled.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, left shoulder disability, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and lumbar spine disability due to incomplete information and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a lower back disability and foot disability due to insufficient examination reports. The Veteran is being asked to provide additional evidence or undergo further examinations.

The Board denied reopening and service connection for back condition and radiculopathy of the lower extremities as new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact or raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since October 19, 2013.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and evaluation due to worsening of the Veteran's lumbar spine and right sciatic nerve conditions, as well as his unemployability.