Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the cases for further action due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a VA examination.

A rating higher than 40 percent for lumbosacral sprain with degenerative disc disease prior to March 9, 2016, and higher than 10 percent thereafter is denied.,An initial rating higher than 20 percent for left leg radiculopathy from March 9, 2016 is denied.,An initial rating higher than 20 percent for right leg radiculopathy from March 9, 2016 is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating due to insufficient evidence or inadequate examinations. The issues include chronic arthritis, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), and lumbosacral degenerative disc disease.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claims for pelvic floor dysfunction, low back disorder, and hypertension are not granted. The case is being sent back to the RO for further development.

The Board has granted a clothing allowance for the left wrist splint used to treat service-connected carpal tunnel syndrome. The right wrist splint, bilateral knee braces, and menthol/methyl salicylate topical medication are denied as they do not meet the criteria for an annual clothing allowance.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with a previous remand order, and the need for further development including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an examination.

The Board has found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is etiologically related to acoustic trauma sustained in active service. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded for further development and examination.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are found to have been incurred during service.,His unspecified depressive disorder is determined to be secondary to his service-connected migraine headaches.,Bilateral hearing loss is denied as not related to service.,Back, neck, left knee, and right knee disorders are all denied as not related to service.,Right eye and left eye disorders are also denied as not related to service.,Diabetes mellitus is denied as not related to service.,Peripheral neuropathy in the upper extremities and lower extremities are both denied as not related to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at the maximum schedular evaluation of 10 percent.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss has been granted, with a current rating of 10 percent.,Hypertension was not incurred in service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.,Low back disability was not incurred in service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.,Cervical spine disability was not incurred in service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.,Arthritis of the bilateral lower extremities was not incurred in service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.,Peripheral neuropathy of the right leg was not incurred in service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.,Peripheral neuropathy of the left leg was not incurred in service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.,An acquired psychiatric disability to include major depressive disorder is not related to an in-service injury, disease, or event.,Restless leg syndrome of the right leg is not related to an in-service injury, disease, or event.,Restless leg syndrome of the left leg is not related to an in-service injury, disease, or event.,Right hip disability was not incurred in service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA opinion and readjudicating the issue of a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability from April 2, 2009, to June 7, 2016.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's low back disability.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar strain, tinnitus, and rhinitis. The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable evaluation for hemorrhoids and a higher initial evaluation for GERD are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for other specified depressive disorder. The remaining issues of service connection for lumbar disability, hypertension, prostate disability (benign prostate hypertrophy), and initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for diabetes mellitus are remanded.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for higher initial ratings in multiple service-connected conditions, resulting in the dismissal of all issues.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to address whether the Veteran's low back disability is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected right hip disability, and whether his status post removal of right foot accessory bone (os externum) and hypertrophic bone medial navicular and advancement of posterior tibial tendon are related to his service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are now pending. The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to support the reopening of his claims for PTSD and sleep apnea, but not for sarcoidosis, IHD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, DDD of the lumbar spine, or PTSD.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy were granted, with specific ratings and effective dates provided. The issues of separate compensable ratings for neurologic abnormalities other than radiculopathy, special monthly compensation on the basis of aid and attendance or housebound status, and entitlement to VA compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A § 1151 are still pending.

The Veteran's hypertension and lumbosacral strain claims are being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination for her lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, is denied due to lack of continuity of symptomatology after service and no medical evidence linking it to service. The neck, left knee, and left ankle disabilities are remanded for further examination.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the merits of the Veteran's claims, including for service connection for various disorders. The case is being remanded for further development.