Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's low back disability, specifically whether it is related to service. The Veteran claims his current condition began during deployment in Iraq.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for low back disability, neck disability, and arthritis of the bilateral lower extremity due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a medical opinion regarding her low back conditions and their relationship to service.

The Board denied service connection for back, neck, and right lower extremity disabilities (including right ankle) as there was no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's time in service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, left knee disorder, left elbow disorder, right elbow disorder, low back disorder, left hip disorder, and right hip disorder. Additional development is required due to incomplete records.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the issues of low back condition, fatigue, muscle pain, joint pain, and weight loss was dismissed. Service connection was granted for an unspecified trauma-related disorder but denied for stomach condition and headaches.

The Board denied a higher rating for lumbar degenerative disc disease with lumbar strain from April 27, 2015 to March 23, 2018 and granted a 20 percent disability rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right hip, right knee, acid reflux, and low back conditions. The decision also noted that the Veteran's skin condition (claimed as dyshidrotic eczema) was remanded for a new examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, skin disorder, and alcoholism and depression (secondary to PTSD) due to lack of VA examination. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine if his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition with arthritis, a neck condition with arthritis, and hypertension due to lack of medical opinion on etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for a degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, finding that it is related to military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obesity is denied as a matter of law.,His claim for an increased evaluation for left inguinal hernia remains remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Board dismissed the appeals of whether VA has received new and material evidence to reopen a claim for service connection for a low back disorder, entitlement to service connection for fibromyalgia, and entitlement to service connection for depression. The Veteran's appeal regarding a rating greater than 30 percent for PTSD was also dismissed.

The claim for service connection of lumbar spine degenerative disc disease is granted on a secondary basis due to the Veteran's service-connected plantar warts. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for non-obstructive coronary artery disease is remanded.

The Board dismissed all the issues related to service connection and increased evaluations due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims, including for fibromyalgia, costochondritis, obstructive sleep apnea, prostate disorder, gastrointestinal disorder, skin disorder, and low back disorder. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations for these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the low back and right knee due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran contends that her current conditions are related to her service-connected left knee disability.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and any in-service injury or treatment.

The Board denied service connection for back disability, skin disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The decision found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance of another person was denied because he did not meet the criteria set forth in 38 C.F.R. § 3.352(a). The Board found that the Veteran could dress, feed himself, attend to his hygiene needs, and protect himself from daily hazards without regular assistance. For the nonservice-connected pension claim, the Veteran's income exceeded the maximum annual pension rate for a veteran with one dependent, thus denying the claim.