Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected asthma does not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation due to his disability rating and other service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent effective July 28, 2015. The rating remains denied for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent prior to that date.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current thoracic or lumbar spine disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, right ankle, and psychiatric disorders. The claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's OSA is granted as service-connected, effective from the date of his separation from active duty.,A 10 percent disability rating for sciatica is granted, effective January 13, 2011. The low back condition remains at a 10 percent rating.,Service connection for the Veteran's low back condition is granted with an earlier effective date of January 1, 2009.

The Veteran's initial rating for PTSD is denied, and the case is remanded for further development including a TDIU claim and an effective date determination.

The Board denied service connection for low back, left hip, and left knee disorders, as well as a skull fracture (claimed as TBI) and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims were based on the Veteran's reports of in-service injuries but lacked supporting medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for erectile dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss, pes planus, low back pain, left knee condition, and right knee condition due to procedural issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed psychiatric, back, and eye disabilities. The VA will seek corroboration of the Veteran's stressor events, obtain a VA examination for his psychiatric disability, and provide an addendum opinion on his back and eye conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for post traumatic arthritis of right knee and degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the cervical spine are remanded due to insufficient evidence. A new examination is required to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including left shoulder, right shoulder, bilateral knee, low back, and left pelvic arthritis. The remand requires VA examinations to explore etiology and exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, finding no current chronic back disability and no evidence of disease or injury in service that is related to the Veteran's claimed condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination. The issues of service connection for right hip disorder and back disorder (secondary to left knee strain and chondromalacia) are referred to the AOJ.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and military service. The secondary service connection claim for left knee disability-related spinal issues was also denied.

The claim for service connection of the Veteran's back disorder has been reopened, but it is still being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating on obstructive sleep apnea is dismissed. His right ear hearing loss is granted, but his lumbar spine and cervical spine conditions are partially granted with restrictions. Other claims remain pending.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted. The Board has remanded several of his increased rating claims for further examination and opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral hip disorder and cervical spine disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and his service-connected lumbosacral strain with muscle spasm and L4-L5 degenerative joint disease. The Veteran's current disabilities were found to be related to in-service injuries or symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to her failure to attend scheduled VA examinations and the need for additional private medical records. The issues of rating adjustments, service connection, and other claims are all pending.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, which is the maximum rating available under the criteria. The ratings for his lumbar spine disability and sciatica of the right leg are both denied as they do not meet the required criteria for higher ratings.