Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disability, but has remanded it for further development including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling an examination to determine if the condition is related to his service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, including residuals of lumbar spine surgery. The issues of initial compensable ratings for leg length discrepancy and residual lower back scar are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for spondylolysis was reopened and the appeal is granted. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability, to include spondylolysis, is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for the grant of a 60 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine and TDIU are denied as no earlier effective dates are assignable.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions from previous VA examinations regarding the service connection for a lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for a lumbar spine disability, bilateral hip condition, and left leg condition.

The Board has decided that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's low back disability, including degenerative disc disease, was incurred in or aggravated by his active service. The examiner should consider all evidence of record and provide an opinion on whether the disability is related to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to address the Veteran's claims of service connection, increased ratings, and initial increased rating for his right knee injury with degenerative joint disease and lumbar spondylosis and spondylolisthesis with degenerative arthritis of the spine.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disability and left knee disability due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran is considered credible in reporting his symptoms, but further medical examination and opinion are needed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his lumbar spine degenerative joint disease and PTSD, make it impossible for him to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbar spine, bilateral knee, and right hip disabilities was granted. He is now in receipt of separate ratings for his lower extremity radiculopathy and DJD of the knees.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a back disorder due to additional evidence submitted by his representative. The case will be reviewed by the RO and then returned to the Board if necessary.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for migraine headaches, to include as secondary to service-connected disabilities, including the medications taken for those disabilities, due to inadequate VA medical opinions. The Veteran's claims will be further developed and a new addendum opinion is needed regarding whether his service-connected conditions aggravated his migraines.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to address issues related to service connection for a back disorder and respiratory distress and chemical sensitivity.

The Veteran's disability rating for DDD, lumbar spine was restored to 10 percent effective March 1, 2014.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to missing Social Security Administration (SSA) records and need for clarification on the nature and etiology of his right knee, right ankle, cervical spine, lumbar spine, and coronary artery disease. The VA will obtain these records and provide further medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected thoracic and lumbar spine disability did not necessitate a temporary total rating extension beyond June 30, 2009 due to lack of severe postoperative residuals or other specified conditions.

The claim for service connection for a low back disability is remanded, and the claim for service connection for hypertrophy of the prostate with urinary dysfunction to include as due to exposure to herbicide agents is also remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claims for service connection for a back condition, scars and denting of the forehead, headaches, right leg disorder, and left lower extremity disorder. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for elbow and low back disabilities, finding no evidence of a current disability related to service or any service-connected conditions.