Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability has been reopened and granted. The Board found new and material evidence to support the reopening of his claim, including an August 2011 private medical opinion linking his current back problems to military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his low back disability was denied as the evidence did not show that he met the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequate examinations and missing medical records. The issues include rating for lumbosacral strain, service connection for radiculopathy in both lower extremities, dermatitis or eczema, and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of lower back, left hip, and bilateral knee disabilities as secondary to service-connected residuals of a tibia and fibula fracture due to the Veteran's failure to appear at scheduled examinations. The VA will attempt to schedule new VA examinations.

The Board has granted reopening of the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and remanded the increased rating claims for the thoracolumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as additional medical opinions regarding her claimed right foot, left foot, bilateral ankle, bilateral knee, bilateral hip, low back, joint pain, eye, and psychiatric disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hand osteoarthritis, right shoulder disability, low back disability, and bilateral patellofemoral syndrome. The Veteran's current diagnoses are considered to be related to his active military service.

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

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is not service-connected as it was not incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for his service-connected conditions, finding that he did not submit a claim within one year of his separation from service.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disability due to insufficient evidence and an in-service injury. A VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for low back strain due to additional development being needed, including an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder, cervical spine, and lumbar spine disabilities due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between the conditions and service.,Service connection was also denied for right hip disability as there is no specific claim or issue listed in the decision.

The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 20 percent prior to January 4, 2014. Since then, the rating has been increased to 40 percent.

The Board finds that remand is warranted to obtain the Veteran's service personnel records and associated treatment records, as these may document his service in Vietnam and contain pertinent information for his claims on appeal.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, but remanded them due to insufficient evidence or further development is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete range of motion testing.

The Board has denied service connection for ischemic heart disability and diabetes mellitus, both presumed to be related to herbicide exposure. The claims are remanded for further examination regarding left shoulder, back, cervical spine, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, and bilateral upper extremity neuropathy.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 10 percent, but a higher rating of 20 percent is granted. The Veteran's benign prostatic hypertrophy remains rated at 20 percent due to lack of evidence supporting a higher rating. The scars post-malignant melanoma removal are not compensable.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, but denied all other claims as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claims.