Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for a back condition, bilateral knee condition, urticaria with pruritus, and bilateral ankle condition due to new and material evidence. The issues are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claim for a low back disorder and hypertension has been reopened, with the former being granted as her current diagnosis of lumbar spondylosis raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating her claim.,Her claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder) is also granted due to aggravation by her service-connected right hip and cervical spine disabilities.

The Board has determined that there are outstanding medical records from Mt. San Antonio College and additional VA examinations are needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's current back, knee, and foot disorders.

The Veteran's back disability and TDIU claims are remanded due to inadequate examination reports and the need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder) has been granted.,Some issues have also been remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as associated radiculopathy of the lower and upper extremities, are remanded due to inadequate examination findings. The claim for TDIU is also remanded.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's service-connected low back disability, finding that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar paraspinal and other back musculature spasms/pain as secondary to his service-connected lymphoma and prostate cancer.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, hip, and bilateral knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, and left knee strain as these conditions are not related to service.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine disability and thoracolumbar spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses do not meet the criteria.,The evidence did not show a current diagnosis of a thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including new VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a lumbar spine disorder that manifested in service or within one year thereafter, and it is less likely as not caused by his military service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder is denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for a back disorder, which is now considered. The Veteran's claim will be evaluated based on all available evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right knee disability, arthritis of the right knee, bilateral tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, back condition, and peripheral neuropathy, have been denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease that caused or aggravated these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for a VA examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any claimed conditions and there is no evidence linking these conditions to service. As such, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to deficiencies in the VA examination opinions and need for additional development of evidence.