Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disorder, finding that it is related to his in-service injury and subsequent chronic symptoms. The rating assigned is 100%.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for migraine headaches, low back condition, and neck pain secondary to PTSD due to insufficient evidence. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right knee condition or bilateral hearing loss, and therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.,Regarding the back condition, the Board finds that further examination and opinion are needed to determine if it is related to service.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral ankle disability and a low back disability, finding no current disabilities. The claim for psychiatric disability is remanded due to the need for an examination.,Service connection will be considered if there is evidence of a current disability that began during or was aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for left eye blindness and Parkinson's disease, among other conditions. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for the remaining listed conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right ear hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder, GERD, abdominal aortic aneurysm, type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, respiratory disorders, vocal cord dysfunction, bilateral knee and shoulder disorders, lumbar spine disorder, and scars. The development includes obtaining service personnel records for the Veteran's periods of active duty and National Guard service, as well as verifying any qualifying periods of service.,The Board also notes that the Veteran has contended that his conditions are related to hazardous exposures during his period of active duty, including exposure to jet fuel and chemicals. The AOJ should attempt to verify these claims and obtain VA medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and error in finding that examinations account for functional loss.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and radiculopathy of the lower left extremity, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's in-service injury. The decision also reopened the Veteran's claims for these disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder and bilateral knee disorder, but has remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence to verify stressor incidents and incomplete medical records. The Veteran will be provided with a VA psychiatric and spine examination, and his claims will be readjudicated.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma and osteoporosis of the spine and hips, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for clarification on whether any low back disability pre-existed service and if there was a superimposed injury or disease in service that resulted in additional back disability. The examiner is requested to provide an addendum medical opinion addressing these issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition, including lumbar degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease with HLA B-27 positive genetic status, finding no evidence of such conditions during or prior to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his active military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for Paget's Disease and thoracolumbar spine disorder due to exposure to Agent Orange and/or ionizing radiation. Additional development is needed, including obtaining dose estimates from the Under Secretary for Health and new VA medical opinions on whether these conditions are related to service.

An increased rating of 20 percent for the right knee instability disability from July 19, 2008 to October 28, 2010 is granted. The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a lower back disorder as secondary to the service-connected right knee disability and an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for the right knee limitation of flexion disability from August 22, 2007 are remanded.

The Veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine and left ankle strain with degenerative arthritis are granted as secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The claims for increased ratings on both knees are remanded.

The Veteran's request for an increased evaluation of his left ankle disability is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.,The Veteran's claims for service connection of right and lumbar back disabilities are remanded as secondary to his service-connected left ankle disability, requiring a comprehensive opinion from a VA examiner.,No specific rating or effective date was provided in this decision.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his service-connected back disability, right leg sciatica, and left leg sciatica were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on functional loss or pain, as well as lack of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.