Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's thoracolumbar strain was evaluated at a 20% rating prior to July 23, 2010. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's bilateral hip and middle back disabilities are granted service connection. The claims for PTSD, cervical spine disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral ankle disability remain pending with new examinations required. TDIU is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to new evidence being added to his record, and a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) must be issued before any final decision can be made.

The Veteran's initial higher rating for Headache Syndrome prior to August 12, 2015 was denied. A 50% disability rating is granted from that date onwards. The claims of entitlement to initial compensable ratings for Right Hip Degenerative Arthritis and Left Hip Degenerative Arthritis are remanded. The claim of entitlement to an increased rating for Lumbosacral Intervertebral Disc Syndrome is also remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, and he also received a separate 10 percent rating for neurogenic bladder impairment. The TDIU determination was granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete examination reports, and a new VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's lumbar spine disability was incurred during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and evidence collection. The Board will consider each condition individually, including tinnitus, sulfa drug allergy, low back disorder, vertigo, narcolepsy, headache disorder (secondary to TBI), acquired psychiatric disorder (secondary to TBI), and IBS.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for his neck, knee, and lumbar spine disabilities due to incomplete VA opinions and possible increased symptomatology.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder disability, back disability, and headaches. The claims are granted as new and material evidence has been submitted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, heart disease, hiatal hernia, and memory loss are all denied. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or exposure to environmental contaminants in Southwest Asia, nor does it establish continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are currently rated at 40 percent, but the Board has determined that an increased rating is not warranted. A TDIU on an extraschedular basis was granted.

The Veteran's migraine headache disability is rated as noncompensable prior to November 12, 2014 and as 50 percent disabling thereafter. The Board has granted a 50% rating for the Veteran’s service-connected migraine headaches since November 11, 2009.

The Board has denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as it is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident during service and was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability. The low back disorder, right shoulder disorder, bilateral hearing loss, urinary disorder, and prostate cancer claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's use of his back brace for his service-connected lumbar spine disability is causing wear and tear on his clothing, which qualifies him for a clothing allowance in 2015. The Board granted this claim based on the equipoise of evidence supporting the Veteran's claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests to reopen claims for service connection for a back disorder, right knee disorder, and defective vision. The evidence did not establish new and material information or evidence that could trigger VA's duty to assist.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI, back disorder, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and neck disorder are denied. The claims for reopening of service connection for headache disorder and skin disorder are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, low back disability, and pes planus. The Veteran's claims were based on in-service noise exposure.,Service connection was not granted as the evidence did not show a current disability of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus that is related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and for a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD prior to February 17, 2011 due to insufficient development.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and denied entitlement to TDIU prior to October 19, 2015. The Veteran's current disabilities include PTSD, Parkinson's Disease, and erectile dysfunction.