Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for back disability, cervical strain, and mouth disability due to inadequate medical opinions in his VA examinations. The claims will be further evaluated with additional evidence and a new examination.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for all issues except those related to his right elbow. As a result, the Board is dismissing these appeals.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and he appeals for a higher rating due to worsening pain, severely limited mobility, and difficulty in working.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a low back disorder due to new and material evidence submitted by the Veteran. The case is remanded as further medical examination is needed to determine if the current low back disorder is related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of a low back condition, right ankle condition, sleep apnea condition, and headache condition have been reopened.,Service connection has been granted for sleep apnea and headaches. The Veteran’s hypertension and diabetes mellitus Type II are denied.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted service connection. Service connection for left lower extremity shin splints, left shoulder disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and coccyx disorder are denied. The bilateral hip disorders' service connection claim is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations for her service-connected lumbar strain with mild left L5-S1 foraminal narrowing and right ear hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, hypertension, and a lumbar spine disorder, as they are related to herbicide agent exposure. The RO is instructed to verify the Veteran’s alleged exposure to herbicides in Vieques Island, Puerto Rico, or at Fort Sherman, Panama.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine are being remanded to allow for additional examinations and consideration of his claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is granted, but the disability is denied as it was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder has been granted. The appeal regarding the total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed as withdrawn or moot. The motion alleging clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the November 1971 rating decision has been granted, resulting in an effective date of June 18, 1971, for the grant of service connection for post-operative residual scarring associated with lung biopsy.

The Veteran's back brace caused wear and tear to his clothing, leading the Board to grant a clothing allowance for the 2015 calendar year.

The Board has decided to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and upper back disabilities, but finds that additional development is needed due to inadequate VA examination.

The Board dismissed the appeals on all issues related to service connection for various knee and hip disabilities, as well as a low back disability. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing that these conditions had their onset during or within one year after his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's back disabilities are related to service, including his active duty for training.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for lumbar spine stenosis and left lower extremity radiculopathy were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine condition, left knee disability, and right knee disability due to inadequate medical opinions in the previous VA examinations. The cases are being sent back for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of the veteran's credible lay reports regarding his in-service slip and fall injury, which resulted in a back-muscle sprain. The examiner is required to address whether it is at least as likely as not that this in-service injury caused his current thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back disability, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic condition during service or within one year after separation. The current diagnosis is not related to an in-service injury and the preponderance of evidence does not support a relationship between the current disability and service.