Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's migraines are rated at the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent, and his low back and cervical spine disabilities are granted service connection.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine and tailbone/coccyx disabilities, finding no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after service. The right shoulder and left shoulder disabilities were also denied as the Veteran's STRs did not show any complaints or findings related to these conditions.,Service connection was not granted because there is no medical evidence linking current lumbar spine, tailbone/coccyx, right shoulder, or left shoulder disabilities to service.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability as the evidence did not show an in-service injury or disease and there was no continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and to obtain additional medical records. The main issue is determining the extent of his service-connected lumbar disc disease and its impact on his ability to use his feet.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar back disability with degenerative disc disease due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is rated at 40 percent, the maximum rating available under DC 5237. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as there is no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbosacral and cervical spine disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which he contends are related to his military service, including multiple jumps out of airplanes.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether there is an etiological link between the Veteran’s current lumbosacral spine disability and active service. The decision resolves all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection. The remaining issues, including PTSD, sleep apnea, left shoulder disability, back disability, skin cancer, and kidney stones (claimed as kidney stones), are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back pain, left knee pain, right knee pain, tinnitus, COPD, and bilateral foot disorder (plantar fasciitis) have been remanded due to the need for additional development.,Specifically, the Board is directed to further develop evidence related to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for a back disorder. The examiner is required to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's current back condition is related to her military service, including any verified periods of active duty or inactive duty training.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection for various conditions, including right back pain, cervical spinal stenosis, chronic sinusitis, and depression are remanded due to incomplete development of records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of evidence, including a need for additional VA examinations and obtaining private medical records. The Veteran's lower back disability is being evaluated again.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for their lumbar spine condition has been withdrawn by the appellant's attorney.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that there was no evidence of a pre-existing condition and that any current disability is not related to military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for osteoarthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and an acquired psychiatric disability (schizophrenia) due to the need for additional medical examinations. The Veteran must be provided with a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of his current disabilities, including whether they are related to service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for lumbar degenerative disc disease with disc protrusion was denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 20 percent, effective April 8, 2013.,The Veteran's right foot disability, initially rated as non-compensable due to the scar from his bunionectomy and osteotomy, has been increased to a 10 percent rating since April 8, 2013. The claim for a higher initial rating remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to engage and retain substantially gainful employment, resulting in a grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for her service-connected back disability is remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA examination in assessing additional functional loss during flare-ups.