Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, increases in the staged ratings of his lumbar spine disability, and initial increases in the staged ratings of radiculopathy left lower extremity. The Board has remanded these issues.,Service connection was granted for radiculopathy left lower extremity secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for back disorder and right ear hearing loss, as well as the initial rating claim for left ear hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure. The Veteran is also requested to provide records from John Heinz Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine and undergo a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of VA examination and requests for another one during a flare-up. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is being evaluated again.

The claims for low back, left ankle, right ankle, and flat feet disabilities have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The Veteran's service-connected polyneuropathy is also being evaluated.

The Veteran's degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine has been rated at 20 percent since January 13, 2006. The Board found that his current disability does not warrant a higher rating as it only allows for limitation of motion to forward flexion of 55 degrees.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the evidence does not support a link between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection of various disabilities, including an acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral shoulder disability, respiratory condition (bronchitis and asthma), bilateral ankle disability, back disability, and neck disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The AOJ is instructed to verify dates of active duty training and inactive duty training, obtain any outstanding VA or private treatment records, and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding his claims of service connection for tinnitus and back disability. The Board will consider the full evidence of record, including the Veteran's statements about his symptoms during active duty.

The Board denied service connection for Parkinson’s disease and remanded the issue of increased evaluation for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ankle, knee, and low back disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examination and lack of treatment records. The Veteran's back disability is being reviewed again with a new examination.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, bilateral hip pain, and bilateral neuropathic pain of the lower extremities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development to determine if he meets the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, including an extraschedular evaluation.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine as there was no evidence of a valid freestanding claim and no allegation of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in previous decisions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral shoulder disability, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and cervical spine, left ulnar neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus. The issues are being remanded due to insufficient evidence on file from 1972 until 2001.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including back disability, neck disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, left hand arthritis, and bilateral shoulder disability. The evidence did not meet the criteria for establishing service connection.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and left hip osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's conditions were not incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including left knee, right knee, back, left hip, and right hip conditions, are not service-connected as they were not incurred or aggravated during his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate explanation of functional loss and lack of assessment of flare-ups during the VA examination. The Veteran's TDIU issue is also inextricably intertwined with the initial rating issue.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disorder, including a spinal cord tumor, is granted. The Board finds new and material evidence to reopen the claim.