Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service connection claims for a hysterectomy, low back disorder, right hip disorder, sinusitis, acid reflux, and bladder incontinence are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,Her current diagnoses of chronic sinusitis, GERD, and urinary incontinence will be evaluated by VA physicians.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder was granted, with the condition being diagnosed as lumbosacral strain and degenerative disc disease. The other claims were either denied or dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence received within a year of the previous rating decision. The issues include back, left knee, right knee, and shortening of the left leg disorders all claimed as secondary to his service-connected fracture of the distal left tibia.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 40 percent for his back disability as of January 18, 2016 is dismissed. The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 40 percent for the service-connected back disability is granted. The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his left knee disability is remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection of various disabilities, including PTSD and spine and joint disorders. The case will be returned to the Board after completion of this development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disorder, lower and middle back disorder, and pes planus due to additional development being necessary.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and SSA disability benefits records. The Veteran will be provided with a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the previously denied claims for service connection of a low back disorder, left hip disorder, and right hip disorder have been granted.,Service connection has also been granted for his low back disorder as secondary to his bilateral knee disorders.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for TDIU and increased rating for spondylosis of the thoracolumbar spine due to outstanding records, need for additional medical opinions, and consideration of extraschedular considerations.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted due to his service-connected disabilities, which include depression and anxiety, left knee conditions, lumbar spine with IVDS, right knee condition, left lower extremity radiculopathy, removal of gallbladder, residual scar from cholecystectomy, and a surgical scar on the left knee. His combined disability rating is 70 percent.

The Board has found that further development is necessary for the service connection claims related to lumbar spine disability, vertigo, migraine headaches, erectile dysfunction (secondary to lumbar spine disability), and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The Veteran's current disabilities are believed to be related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or incident related to his current condition and concluding that the Veteran's current back disability is more likely due to age-related development of spinal stenosis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, separate ratings for neurological impairments associated with his lumbar spine disability, an extraschedular rating for DJD of the lumbar spine, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The AOJ is instructed to schedule a new examination for the Veteran regarding his sleep apnea claim and address the nature and etiology of any such condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to missing service treatment records and a need for an additional medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability.

The Board has granted service connection for medial malleolus ossific densities of the left ankle. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for systemic arthritis, lumbar spine disability, bilateral knee disabilities, bilateral heel disabilities, and bilateral ankle disabilities. The decision also remanded several issues including service connection for a dental condition.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to insufficient information on the current level of disability caused by his service-connected conditions. The Board requires updated assessments from VA examiners.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and development are needed to properly assess the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including their current severity and any functional impairment.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to January 18, 2017, for service connection of various conditions were denied.,Claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, left knee meniscal injury, PTSD, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and a left knee scar were also denied.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with scoliosis is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence.