Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed in-service injury and its relation to his current back disability. Additional development is needed, including a request for records from JSRRC or NARA.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain prior to May 3, 2017, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder. The examiner is requested to provide an adequate opinion that fully addresses all relevant facts, including whether a thoracolumbar spine disorder had onset in or is otherwise related to active service and if there are any additional disability due to an in-service disease or injury superimposed on his scoliosis condition.

The Veteran's service connection claim for Reiter’s Syndrome is granted. The Board also grants the Veteran's claims for cervical spine arthritis and lumbar spine arthritis as secondary to his Reiter’s Syndrome, but remands these issues due to a lack of medical opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for back disability and sleep apnea due to the Veteran's failure to attend scheduled VA examinations. The examinations will be rescheduled, and further evaluations are needed.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings and effective date for TDIU due to inadequate examination findings. The Veteran will need a new VA examination, and he is asked to provide additional information regarding his earned income.

The Board has granted service connection for lower back disability and acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to service.,Service connection was established for both a lower back disability (lumbosacral strain) and an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder with anxiety).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or chronic condition and that any current cervical spine disability is not related to his military service or a service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis with patellofemoral syndrome and right knee degenerative arthritis with patellofemoral syndrome. The claim for service connection for mouth ulcers is remanded, as well as the claim for low back strain with degenerative arthritis.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current diagnosis for the claimed low back, neck, hip, and peripheral neuropathy conditions. As such, service connection cannot be granted.,Service connection was denied for all four issues due to lack of diagnosed conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current low back disability is related to his service as a Fuel Specialist. The case will be sent back for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a herniated disc and the rating appeal for his lumbar spine condition from April 11, 2016 are both denied.

The Veteran's low back condition is rated at 40 percent, and the Board has remanded his claims for left knee and right leg conditions due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder with neurological manifestations involving the lower extremities is granted a disability rating of 30 percent prior to July 31, 2012. From July 31, 2012, the disability rating for thoracolumbar compression disorder remains at 40 percent.

The Veteran's chronic low back pain was granted a rating of 20 percent prior to May 25, 2013. A higher rating is denied.

The Board denied referral for extraschedular consideration of the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the available schedular evaluations adequately accounted for his symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.,The issues on appeal include claims for increased ratings for various disabilities, as well as a claim for service connection and TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and low back disability due to missing medical records and incomplete examination opinions.

The claim to reopen the issue of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability is dismissed. Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability is granted, but the case is remanded due to issues with the back disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain and for individual unemployability due to service-connected disability. The case is returned for further development.