Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board has ordered the case to be remanded due to incomplete records and the need for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and lumbar spine with degenerative changes at L5/S1 due to a lack of adequate medical examination, particularly regarding whether his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's appeals because he failed to meet the first prong of service connection. The Board will now remand for additional examination and opinion regarding his left knee and right knee disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disability is related to service, but requires further medical examination and opinion to determine if it was caused or aggravated by service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and a right foot/ankle disability, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease that could be linked to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of a VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's esophageal cancer, which contributed to his death. The examiner is required to provide opinions on whether each service-connected disability contributed substantially or materially to death and if it aided in the production of death.

The appeal for the low back disorder and psoriasis was dismissed. The acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and insomnia, is granted with service connection. The TDIU claim is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, to include thoracolumbar scoliosis, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing condition did not worsen during her military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional examination and review due to deficiencies in previous examinations, including those related to pain on motion and radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left ankle and low back disability, including as secondary to a service-connected left ankle fracture, were denied. The claim for an increased rating for left ankle disability was granted with a 20 percent evaluation effective October 19, 2015.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal disability, including diverticulitis, ventral hernia, and colon polyp, is not service-connected.,PTSD was not diagnosed in the record.

Your appeals for increased ratings and special monthly compensation have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The Board has no jurisdiction to proceed as the appellant is deceased.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back, right knee, left knee, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's application to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted since the last final denial in November 2007.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a higher rating for his low back disability after June 23, 2015. As a result, the Board dismissed this issue.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disorder. A new VA examination is required.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and a right knee disability as secondary to his service-connected left knee strain. The conditions are considered direct service connections based on evidence of in-service injury and current disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis of the left hand, right hand, and thoracolumbar spine as there was no evidence showing a link to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's bilateral knee and low back conditions have been remanded for further evaluation. The issues of service connection for PTSD, a bilateral foot condition secondary to PTSD, anxiety disorder, and TDIU are also pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete service records and the need for additional examinations.