Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability has been granted. A 10 percent rating is assigned for hemorrhoids from September 18, 2017. The skin condition of the face and other issues remain under review.

Service connection for primary thrombocytopenia, right shoulder disorder, and lumbar spine disorder is denied.,The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a pelvis fracture, including a lower back condition, finding that the Veteran's current back disability was not related to his in-service injury.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings on multiple service-connected disabilities are being remanded due to the need for updated treatment records and VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for lumbar spine disability and sleep apnea due to insufficient medical evidence, requiring further VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and to obtain medical records. The issues of an increased disability rating for the service-connected back disorder and entitlement to SMC benefits are also being remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ and TDIU, finding that there was no intent to apply for benefits prior to February 25, 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, was incurred during his active duty service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination, specifically regarding the service connection of lumbar spine and right hip disabilities as well as the initial rating for hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected knee conditions and for service connection for his cervical and lumbar spine conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right knee disability is related to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability, diagnosed as osteoarthritis, is related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent from August 29, 2007, to July 12, 2015, and 20 percent thereafter, for service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease; LLE radiculopathy; RLE radiculopathy; and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical and lumbosacral spine disorders due to a lack of a VA examination addressing his contentions of continued back pain since service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete compliance with previous instructions.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings has been remanded due to the need for further evidence and examination. The onychomycosis claim is not currently before the Board.

The Board denied service connection for back, left ankle, left foot, left hip, and right hip disabilities. The Veteran's current lower back conditions are not related to the alleged in-service forklift incident.,The Veteran's left ankle condition is also not related to the alleged in-service forklift incident.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability was restored to a 40 percent rating, effective April 21, 2016. The reduction from 40 percent to 20 percent was found to be improper due to the lack of proper procedural safeguards.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability, finding that it is related to his in-service complaints and injury. The June 2014 private medical opinion supports this conclusion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability, including degenerative changes of the thoracolumbar spine and compression of L2, is related to his military service. The claim for service connection is granted.