Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for chronic motion sickness and remanded the issues of service connection for a back disability, service connection for chronic motion sickness, and evaluation of bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has restored a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's lumbar strain disability, effective May 1, 2015. The reduction from 40 to 20 percent was improper due to lack of material improvement in the Veteran’s condition.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a back disability, bilateral hearing loss, sinus condition, and anxiety disorder due to incomplete records and lack of verification of military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if the appellant's current back disability and left knee disability are related to his military service, specifically during training periods in July 2009 and November 2009.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hand disability (including trigger finger and carpal tunnel syndrome) and low back disability are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's applications to reopen his claims of service connection for a low back disorder and skin disorder, finding that new and material evidence was not presented in either case.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back disability, including whether it is related to service-connected bilateral ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a lumbar spine disability was reopened due to new and material evidence. The Board found that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is related to his active service, including an in-service injury during combat in Vietnam.

The Board has denied service connection for heart disability and hypertension, but has remanded the issue of service connection for low back disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's gout, low back pain, bilateral knee and ankle pain, as well as bilateral foot and toe pain are related to service. As a result, the claim for these conditions is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a back disability and PTSD, as they need more information from VA and private sources.

The Board has denied service connection for a left forearm disability and remanded the issue of service connection for a back disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's back disability is denied as there is no evidence of a disease or injury in service, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a connection between his current condition and service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for mild degenerative joint changes of the lumbar spine is denied as his range of motion does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left upper extremity is denied as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity is denied as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need to locate missing records from 2002-2006.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is being remanded because of incomplete development and a lack of an adequate opinion regarding whether his pre-existing condition was aggravated by service.,The Veteran's gastrointestinal disability claims are being remanded due to the need to locate missing records from 2002-2006 and for inadequate examination opinions.,The Veteran's back disability claim is being remanded because of incomplete development and a lack of an adequate opinion regarding whether his condition was aggravated by service.,The Veteran's ankle disability claim is being remanded due to incomplete development and a lack of an adequate opinion regarding the severity of his condition.,The Veteran's fibromyalgia claim is being remanded due to incomplete development and a lack of an adequate opinion regarding the severity of his condition.,The effective date for service connection for fibromyalgia is being remanded due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen a claim for service connection for a back disability is granted. Service connection for the same condition is also granted.,Service connection for left hip arthritis, right hip arthritis, left knee arthritis, and right knee arthritis are all granted.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient examination reports. The claim for low back disorder remains denied as new and material evidence was not received.

The Veteran's migraine headaches have been granted a rating of 50 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The other claims for increased ratings were denied.

The Board is remanding the claims due to new evidence being added to the record since the last Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC). The Veteran's Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) records, as well as private treatment records from Innovative Pain and Spine, have been associated with the case file. These documents must be reviewed by the AOJ for initial consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, neck disability as secondary to bilateral pes planus, and back disability as secondary to bilateral pes planus.