Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and also granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability. The decision finds that the Veteran's current low back disability is related to an in-service injury, and resolves all doubts in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that there is no evidence of a compensable disability during the appeal period.,Service connection for a cervical spine disability was denied due to lack of in-service injury or disease, and insufficient continuity of symptoms since service. The examiner will be asked to provide an addendum opinion regarding this issue.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and sleep apnea. The Veteran's pre-existing conditions were aggravated during active duty training (ACDUTRA).

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current disability and his active duty service or any service-connected condition. The decision also found insufficient evidence to establish secondary service connection due to cold injury.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination in September 2014, and a need for a retrospective medical opinion.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was denied a compensable rating prior to June 25, 2019 and a higher than 40 percent rating thereafter.,The Veteran's spondylolysis L-5 with low back strain, levoscoliosis and diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) disability was granted a 10 percent rating from March 1, 2014.

The Board granted an increased disability rating of 40 percent for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability, effective from April 1, 2013.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for upper and low back disabilities due to a lack of VA treatment records and an incomplete service treatment record file. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar disability, which is secondary to his service-connected left knee disability, must be remanded due to inadequate examination and lack of rationale in the previous opinion.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disorder is granted. The Veteran's claims for left shoulder, sleep apnea, and lumbar spine disorders are remanded due to lack of VA examination opinions. The Veteran's claims for bilateral knee disorders are also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition, finding that there was no evidence of chronicity or continuity of symptoms since service and concluding that his current condition is more likely due to post-service events.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for joint pain, low back pain, and ulcerative colitis (claimed as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and infection of lower tract), to include as secondary to PTSD. The claims are being remanded for further action.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and relationship of the Veteran's low back condition to his military service. The VA examiner needs to review all available records, including those from active duty, and provide an opinion on whether the low back condition is related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence of current disability. The claim for low back strain has been remanded due to the need for further examination.,Service connection for low back strain has been granted with a rating of 20 percent, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, difficulty swallowing (throat condition), and degenerative disc disease lumbar spine due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service records and a need for an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder. The issue is on appeal for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as the evidence did not establish a link between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unemployable, as he has been employed in various capacities and the Board finds that his employment is not marginal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right lower extremity neurologic disability and an initial compensable rating for his lumbar spine disability, finding no evidence of such disabilities during the appeal period.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection of a low back disability, finding that new and material evidence supports this claim. The Board also found that the Veteran's current low back condition is related to his military service.