Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for a left knee disability, migraines, and right foot degenerative osteoarthritis. The claim for a left foot disability is denied. Service connection has also been granted for a lumbar spine disability but not for cervical degenerative joint disease.,The Veteran's right foot condition was found to be service-connected due to pre-existing conditions aggravated by active duty, and her migraines were found to have no direct link to service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for back disability and bilateral leg disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for swollen joints, lumbar strain and calcification in the thoracic and lumbar spine, left hip disability, cracked sternum, bilateral hearing loss, and dizziness and fainting as there was no evidence of a current disability related to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a back disorder, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss due to deficiencies in the VA examination opinions. The Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms will be considered, and new VA examinations are needed to address the issues.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right upper extremity is granted at a rating of 40 percent, effective from the date of examination. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left upper extremity remains at a rating of 30 percent throughout the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral shin splints, right ear hearing loss disability, lumbar spine disability, hypertension, and headache due to potential errors in the previous VA examinations. The Veteran's current conditions are being reviewed with a focus on their onset during service or their relationship to service.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine and cervical spine degenerative joint diseases, with a rating of 20 percent effective as of the date of decision.

The Board has granted service connection for low back pain, OSA, and DM due to their proximate relationship with the Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder. The Veteran was also granted an initial disability rating of 70 percent for his major depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the record regarding the Veteran's neurological manifestations, specifically right leg sciatica. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to determine current severity of his lower back disability and whether he has right leg sciatica.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the listed conditions have been dismissed due to his request for withdrawal of appeal. The Board has not jurisdiction over these issues as they are no longer in contention.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to comply with a February 2016 Board remand directive, which required scheduling the Veteran for a new VA examination. The examiner was supposed to consider the Veteran's statements of pain since service and her medical history.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow gainful employment prior to September 17, 2015.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions. The Veteran needs VA examinations to determine if his current bunions, ganglion cyst, right shoulder condition, low back condition, pes planus, and sleep apnea are related to his military service.

The Veteran's use of a back brace for his service-connected thoracolumbosacral degenerative arthritis is considered, and he is granted an annual clothing allowance for the year 2015.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding whether the Veteran's back disability was incurred during service or if it is otherwise related to his military service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and right leg neuropathy are granted. The left leg neuropathy is granted with increased ratings.

The claims for service connection of PTSD, hypertension, and low back disability have been reopened. The claims for hemorrhoids and head injury remain denied.

The Veteran's back disability is being remanded for further examination and to obtain relevant medical records. The current staged ratings are not contested, but the VA needs to ensure all pertinent treatment records are considered.

The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder, but remanded the claims for hypertension and lumbar spine disability (scoliosis) due to insufficient evidence.

Service connection is granted for a psychiatric disorder, lumbar spine disability (degenerative disc disease), and cardiovascular disorder. Other service connection claims are remanded.