Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including right wrist, left knee, back, and bilateral ankle disabilities. The Veteran is to be provided with VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's initial rating for his thoracolumbar disability (claimed as back injury with pain) is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability related to scoliosis, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his active service.,For left leg neurological disability and genitourinary disability claims under 38 U.S.C. § 1151, the Board found no evidence of proximate fault on VA’s part in causing additional disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, neck disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) due to military sexual trauma. The VA will provide additional examinations and opinions to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 20 percent disability evaluation for compression fracture L5-S1 with acquired deformity, thoracolumbar spine is denied as there is no evidence of worsening prior to August 28, 2015.

The Board has determined that there is not enough evidence to establish a connection between the Veteran's current lower back disability and his service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Veteran's claims for an increased evaluation of his left knee condition and service connection for lumbar spine spondylosis as secondary to the service-connected disability of left knee internal derangement with arthritis are both remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran will need a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his left knee condition, and an addendum opinion is required to address whether his lumbar spine spondylosis is at least as likely as not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected left knee condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip disorder, right hip disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and low back disorder due to new evidence. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for hearing loss is granted. Service connection for low back disability, allergic rhinitis, tinnitus, sleep apnea, hypertension, and ED are denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, and his PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent. Both conditions are denied for higher ratings.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various knee and back disabilities, as well as bilateral tinnitus, are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities. Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II was denied due to the presumption of soundness being rebutted.

The Veteran's disability rating for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine is being remanded due to a need for further evaluation and testing.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and COPD due to insufficient evidence in the record. Further examination is needed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current lower back disability that began during his active service, and therefore, denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities were severe enough to render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from June 30, 2009. The Board granted the TDIU effective from June 30, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed low back disorder, bilateral lower extremity sciatica, and their relationship to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's back disability was aggravated by his service-connected traumatic neuropathy. The VA is asked to provide an opinion on this issue.