Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequacies in a previous VA examination and for clarification on the Veteran's service as an artillery loader.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities due to incomplete information provided by the Veteran. The AOJ is instructed to attempt to verify the Veteran's current address and resend necessary documents.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection and evaluations for the Veteran's conditions, including a back condition, bilateral shin splints, and post-operative residuals of bunionectomies. The remand requests additional examinations and opinions regarding these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current low back disability is related to her active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, to include degenerative disc disease. The Veteran's current back condition was not incurred in or caused by his military service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and respiratory disability (asthma) were also denied as there is no evidence of such conditions during service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a cervical spine disability and remanded it due to insufficient evidence in the record.

Service connection for L3-4 neural foraminal narrowing, L4-5 grade I spondylolisthesis with resultant central and neural foraminal narrowing is granted.,Service connection for bilateral lumbar radiculopathy is granted.,Service connection for tension headaches is granted.,The claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) is reopened, but the appeal remains pending as it was denied on the merits in October 1981.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including back pain and PTSD, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to February 27, 2012. The Board granted TDIU based on the evidence showing his physical and mental limitations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of a low back disorder and right hip disorder have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence.,Service connection for obesity has not been granted as it is not considered a disability for VA compensation purposes.

The Board has remanded several issues including increased death pension benefit, service connection for right knee disability, service connection for lumbar spine disability, TDIU, and cause of the Veteran's death due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's claim for earlier effective dates for service connection and increase in rating are granted, but the issue of TDIU is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back and right knee disabilities are not related to his active service, as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military duties. The preponderance of the evidence does not support granting service connection for either condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an updated VA examination and compliance with DeLuca v. Brown and Mitchell v. Shinseki requirements.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, cervical radiculopathy, and mood disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence. Additional records from SSA and NARA need to be obtained.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Major Depressive Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury, effectively precluded substantially gainful employment from October 16, 2001 to August 31, 2003. From September 1, 2003 to February 5, 2013, the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and erectile dysfunction. Effective dates have been assigned for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.,The Veteran's claim for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded.

The Board is remanding the issues of service connection for low back disability and bilateral knee disability due to inadequate reasoning in previous VA examinations.,The Board is also remanding the issue of service connection for a respiratory disorder other than OSA, including COPD, due to inadequate reasoning in previous VA examinations.,The Board is remanding the issue of service connection for a skin disability due to inadequate reasoning in previous VA examinations.,The Board is also remanding the issues of service connection for sleep disorder and anxiety disorder both related to PTSD due to inadequate reasoning in previous VA examinations.,The Board is further remanding the issue of rating greater than 10 percent for GERD due to inadequate reasoning in previous VA examinations.

The Board has denied increased ratings for the Veteran's lumbar spine and right shoulder disabilities, but has remanded the issue of service connection for a headache disorder due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, along with associated radiculopathies, have been granted increased ratings.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for torqued sacrum associated with osteoarthritis of lumbar spine and hammertoes. The effective date claim for major depressive disorder remains denied.