Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's PTSD claim has been granted with a 50% rating. The Board finds the evidence insufficient for an increased rating and remands his claims for back condition and heart disability.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and left leg radiculopathy, finding no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for disabilities of the upper and lower back, as well as a mental disorder secondary to those conditions, have been denied. The claim for disabilities of the upper and lower back is based on direct evidence rather than a presumption or secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and requests for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and verifying in-service stressors.

The Board has remanded the cases for further action due to missing SSA records and outstanding DRO hearing request.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back condition due to new and material evidence. The remaining issues of service connection are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a back condition and a left knee condition, both diagnosed as lumbosacral strain and chondromalacia of patella respectively. The Veteran's wrist scar is rated at 10% but the Board denied a separate rating for nerve damage.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete opinions from a VA examiner. The claims will be returned for further development and clarification.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease is being remanded for further examination and evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension as secondary to the service-connected disabilities due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's obesity, caused by his service-connected disabilities, was a substantial factor in causing his hypertension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical segmental dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss, fatigue, skin disability, left hip disorder, and low back disability due to lack of a VA examination or medical opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected back and knee disabilities did not cause weight gain or sleep apnea.,The Veteran's service-connected back disability is rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum rating available under DC 5237.

The claim for service connection of lumbosacral strain is denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for a back disorder and bilateral hearing loss. These claims are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate examination and lack of proper reasons for denial.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his back injury with degenerative disc disease was denied as there is no evidence of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes. The reduction in the rating from 40% to 20% was not proper, and the 40% rating has been restored.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating determinations due to incomplete records, inadequate examinations, and unclear assertions. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical evidence or clarification regarding his claims.

The Board has remanded three service connection claims: for a back disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity. The remand is due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and relationship of these conditions to military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder was reopened and granted, while his left knee condition remains in service-connected status.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and potentially relevant VA treatment records.