Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for lumbar strain and insomnia due to a lack of STRs, need for additional examinations, and need for clarification on the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are denied. The AOJ is instructed to obtain VA treatment records, arrange for a new examination regarding obesity, and remand the remaining issues.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased ratings for right shoulder and right wrist disabilities. The reduction of a 50% rating to a 30% rating for service-connected Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is upheld, but the Veteran's appeal for an increased rating prior to July 25, 2016, and in excess of 30% thereafter, remains pending. The Board has also remanded two issues related to service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, resulting in the grant of TDIU. The SMC based on loss of use claim is remanded for further consideration.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the evidence did not support a link between current symptoms and an in-service injury or disease.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including low back disability, neck pain, buttocks pain (radiculopathy), groin pain, and headaches. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient notice on secondary service connection, incomplete private treatment records, and need for further medical examinations. The issues include bilateral ankle disability, bilateral foot disability, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, left knee disability, migraine headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder, all potentially related to her service-connected right distal femur fracture residuals.

The Veteran's appeals of the claims for kidney disorder, anxiety disorder, tumors of the legs (to include as due to Agent Orange exposure), and PTSD have been dismissed. The appeal for hypertension has been remanded. Appeals for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and back disorder are also remanded.

The Board has remanded multiple issues related to service connection for various disabilities, including shoulder, back, hip, knee, and foot disabilities, as well as a psychiatric disability. The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for PVD of the bilateral lower extremities, lumbar back condition, left shoulder condition (to include numbness and tingling in the arm), and DJD of the right knee as these conditions were not shown to be related to military service or due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The initial rating for his low back disability is denied, but a higher rating of 60 percent is granted from February 13, 2015 to the present. Ratings in excess of 10 percent are denied for neuropathy of both lower extremities secondary to the low back disability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his low back disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of recent legal requirements.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to his military service and have denied all of his claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence, specifically the Veteran's Social Security Administration (SSA) disability records. These records are needed to make a more informed decision on whether new and material evidence was received to reopen service connection claims for various conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition, including left trapezius strain, has been reopened and remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and missing STRs.

The appeals for service connection of various conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder, right knee, lower back, and neck disabilities. The Veteran's claim for a left foot disability was granted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and right leg radiculopathy, but denied service connection for cervical spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sleep apnea, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), and elevated cholesterol levels.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left wrist condition, right wrist condition, and lumbar spine disability due to inadequate medical opinions. A new examination is required with a clear rationale.