Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disability and a compensable rating for his left foot condition due to insufficient medical evidence regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent and the claim for a higher rating is denied. The lumbar strain, radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and femoral nerve involvement to the right lower extremity are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The claim for service connection for a low back disability is reopened and granted.,The claim for service connection for a left foot/ankle disability remains denied as no new and material evidence was submitted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a knee and leg disability, including as secondary to his chronic recurrent low back pain syndrome, was dismissed. The claim for an increased rating for right S1 radiculopathy was denied prior to August 1, 2013, but granted from that date onward with the highest possible rating.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, tension headaches, idiopathic peripheral neuropathy, and memory loss. These conditions are believed to be related to injuries sustained during active duty.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back condition and an acquired psychiatric disorder (schizophrenia), but remanded both issues due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a cervical spine disability is granted, and the appeal regarding his intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine rating is remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Board denied the reopening of claims for service connection for low back disability, left arm disability, and depression due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, sleep apnea, and erectile dysfunction due to their association with the Veteran's service-connected PTSD. The claims of entitlement to service connection for other conditions are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability is etiologically related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for various conditions, including right knee disability, left shoulder disability, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and other musculoskeletal issues, has been granted. However, some claims were remanded due to insufficient evidence or procedural errors.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder. The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and clarifying whether the Veteran claims his condition was related to active duty, service-connected right leg fracture, or National Guard/Reserve service.

The appeals for service connection for various foot, ankle, knee, shoulder, and back disorders are dismissed. The appeal for service connection for a right foot disorder is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to issues with the evidence and because a decision on one claim could significantly impact another.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back and right hip disabilities as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The issues of service connection for left knee, left hip, neck, numbness and weakness of upper extremities, numbness and weakness of lower extremities, and PTSD are remanded.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of November 1, 1997 for the award of Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU). The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing and following substantially gainful employment since November 1, 1997.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, CFS, migraines, sleep apnea, and low back disability are all granted. Service connection for PTSD is granted but with a remand for an initial rating determination.

The Veteran's claims for thoracolumbar degenerative joint disease with intervertebral disc syndrome, left hip bursitis, right hip bursitis, radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve left lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the femoral nerve left lower extremity are all remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for tinnitus is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a neck disorder and lower back disorder, as well as increased evaluations for left and right knee disabilities. The reasons include insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.