Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee, hip, and spine disabilities due to conflicting medical opinions regarding parachute jumps in service. The claims will be reconsidered on their merits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disability and an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was not sufficient evidence to establish a nexus between his in-service injury and his current disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder is remanded due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his pre-existing condition.,Secondary service connection claims are inextricably intertwined with the remanded claim, so they must be deferred until further action on the primary claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The low back disability claim will be examined again, and a left knee disability claim will be contingent on the outcome of the left foot disability claim.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and a left hip disorder, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service or secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a low back condition due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's private treatment records and his lay testimony regarding persistent back pain since service.

The Board denied service connection for gout of the bilateral lower extremities and remanded the issue of service connection for a low back disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate opinion from a VA examiner regarding the Veteran's back disability. The examiner did not consider all diagnoses and failed to address the Veteran's in-service lifting injury.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for compression fracture T-11 and degenerative disc disease, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claim.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has ordered a remand to determine if a higher rating is warranted.

The Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis and major depression associated with lumbosacral strain with right sacroiliac joint dysfunction and degenerative arthritis, status postoperative are granted. The Veteran's left hip condition and right hip joint condition are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 50 percent rating from September 25, 2013 to prior to July 1, 2015. The claims for right shoulder strain, lumbosacral strain, and cervical strain are reopened.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, right hip disability, and osteopenia. The claim for bilateral flat feet and plantar fasciitis was granted.,Service connection for the right knee disability is not warranted as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disability has been reopened. The Board finds new and material evidence to support the reopening of this claim. Other claims, including secondary service connection for back and left knee disabilities and bilateral pes planus, as well as TDIU, are remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and need for an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's initial ratings for various service-connected conditions were granted or denied. The appeal is mixed, with some issues having their initial ratings granted and others not.

The Board has remanded the claims for low back disability, sleep apnea, and folliculitis due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has denied service connection for a low back condition and remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding ITBS.

The Board granted service connection for seborrheic dermatitis and denied the claim for a disorder manifested by pain and tightness in the head and neck, including tension headaches, cervicogenic headaches, IVDS, cervical spondylosis, cervical degenerative disc disease, and cervical spine degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's current low back disability is at least as likely as not due to an injury incurred in active service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded several claims for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and VA treatment records. The Veteran's claims are also being remanded to determine the etiology of his claimed disabilities.,The Veteran is seeking to reopen several service connection claims related to herbicide exposure. These claims have been remanded due to outstanding medical records and further examination.