Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to adjudicate the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back, bilateral hip, and right knee disabilities, as well as higher initial evaluations for his left knee, ankle sprains, and anxiety disorder. The VA will obtain all outstanding treatment records, provide new examinations, and consider whether these conditions are related to service or other factors.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasons and bases regarding VA's duty to assist with the development of the claim on appeal. The Veteran needs another VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's lumbar spine DDD and associated right lower extremity radiculopathy are rated at 40% and 20%, respectively, effective February 24, 2012. The cervical spine disability claim is remanded for further examination.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his in-service injury or disease. The evidence showed no compensable degree of degenerative joint disease within the applicable presumptive period and continuity of symptomatology was not established.,The Board also denied service connection for a cervical spine disability, concluding that the Veteran's current condition did not begin during service and is not related to his in-service injury or disease.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims due to his death, including service connection and increased rating appeals.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of service connection for a low back disability due to the Veteran's withdrawal. The rating for mild persistent asthma remains on appeal and will be remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected back, left and right knees, and right wrist conditions have changed in severity since his VA examination of March 2012. The Board finds that a new VA examination is necessary to decide the increased rating claims for these conditions.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals on all issues related to service connection for GERD, bilateral knee pain, and bilateral ankle pain. Service connection is granted for cervical spine disability (neck pain) but denied for lumbar spine disability, bilateral hand and finger pain, wrist pain, elbow pain, hip pain, and shoulder pain.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, and his sinusitis is rated at 30 percent. These ratings are granted.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis, hypertension, and atrial fibrillation have been granted service connection. The low back and left knee disabilities are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and the Board has determined that there is sufficient evidence to support a finding of current disabilities related to his in-service injuries. However, the Board found no medical nexus between these conditions and active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, diagnosed as herniated nucleus pulposus and lumbar stenosis, was incurred during military service. Service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of low back disability and PTSD for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling new examinations to assess the severity of his disabilities.

The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 20% prior to July 19, 2016 and increased to 40% thereafter. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board is remanding the claims of entitlement to service connection for various conditions due to a lack of VA treatment records and pending eligibility determinations regarding substitution. The appellant must provide notice on whether she wishes to pursue her claims under accrued benefits or as a substitute.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability should be remanded due to incomplete records and the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic lumbosacral strain, patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee, patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee, and bilateral tinea pedis all incurred during active duty.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder is reopened and granted. The Board found new and material evidence to support the reopening of his claim, but did not address the merits of the claim as it was remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine, cervical spine, and left tibia and fibula disabilities prior to June 13, 2014 were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under VA rating criteria.