Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's initial increased rating for DDD, lumbar spine is granted from April 17, 2017. However, his claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee osteoarthritis remains remanded.,Service connection claims for a right foot disability and pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) are also remanded.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of various hip and spine conditions due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted the reopening of the claim for service connection for a mid-back disorder, but has remanded it for further development.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of service connection for lumbar spine, right knee, left knee, right foot skin condition (jungle rot and onychomycosis), and left foot skin condition (jungle rot and onychomycosis).,The appeal as to the claim of entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, to include as secondary to a right and/or left knee disorder is remanded.,The appeal as to the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disorder is remanded.,The appeal as to the claim of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disorder is remanded.,The appeal as to the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right foot skin condition, claimed as jungle rot and onychomycosis, is remanded.,The appeal as to the claim of entitlement to service connection for a left foot skin condition, claimed as jungle rot and onychomycosis, is remanded.

The rating reduction from 20 percent to 10 percent for lumbosacral degenerative joint disease (DJD) effective December 19, 2017 was improper, and the 20 percent rating is restored.,Entitlement to a rating more than 10 percent for cervical spine DJD is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle disorder and low back disorder, as secondary to a right ankle disorder. The remand is due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and origin of these disorders.

The Board denied service connection for chronic lumbar spine and cervical spine disorders due to lack of evidence showing a link between these conditions and the Veteran's active or reserve service.,Service connection was also denied for right knee disability as there is no evidence of ankylosis, nonunion, dislocation, or limitation of motion.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for the Veteran's service-connected low back disability, finding that there was no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis of the spine or intervertebral disc syndrome. The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy was also found to be unrelated to his low back disability.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 20% for the period on appeal. The Board has remanded cases regarding service connection for diabetes mellitus and a bilateral lower extremity disability.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and examination, including service connection claims for sleep apnea, a skin condition, bilateral knee conditions, lumbosacral condition, gastritis, GERD, and thyroid condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disorder, specifically whether it is related to his military service.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 10 percent from January 25, 2010, to October 29, 2010. From October 29, 2010, to April 10, 2014, the Veteran is granted a 20 percent rating for his back disability. A 40 percent rating is assigned beginning April 10, 2014.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions, and that any current disabilities were not shown as chronic within presumptive periods.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back condition and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for PTSD due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee and lower back conditions, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the cases.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for right ear hearing loss was dismissed. The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral degenerative joint disease was granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his low back condition, right and left lower extremity conditions, and left knee condition.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for low back condition, left knee disorder, right foot plantar fasciitis, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy. The effective date of TDIU is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to the need for updated VA treatment records and employment information, as well as clarification of the Veteran's income. The claims file will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The claims of entitlement to service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, dermatological disabilities of the hands, diabetes mellitus, type II, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, and obstructive sleep apnea have been remanded due to new evidence received since the last denial.