Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is remanded due to the submission of additional relevant evidence. The AOJ needs to request information from the Veteran regarding treatment providers and obtain any outstanding VA medical records.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for thoracolumbar spine strain was denied as the disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA's schedular guidelines.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine is granted as service connected, with no specific rating assigned and effective date not specified.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's lumbar back condition is related to service. The examiner must provide an opinion on whether any current disability began in service, was caused by service, or is otherwise related to the Veteran’s active service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the issues of increased ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative arthritis, an increased rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder, service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, service connection for allergic rhinitis, and service connection for sinusitis.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left hip arthralgia, back condition, pes planus and bilateral great toe ulcers are granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee degenerative arthritis. The claim for service connection of these conditions is denied.

The Board denied service connection for thyroid disease, low back condition (claimed as low back pain), and right index finger condition due to lack of evidence showing an in-service injury or disease.,Service connection was not granted because the Veteran did not have a current disability related to his military service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for lumbar strain should be remanded due to an inadequate VA medical opinion.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for a rating in excess of 40 percent for a spine disability, including degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral strain, and cervical strain. The Board dismissed the appeal as per the Veteran's request.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back and neck disabilities due to incomplete service treatment records and a lack of verification regarding his reported injuries during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a lower back disability as secondary to his right knee disability is reopened and remanded. The case is also remanded for an examination to determine the nature and severity of his right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and a low back disability have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran experienced traumatic events during service, which led to his current diagnoses of PTSD and a low back condition.

The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected, and his DIC benefits claim under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 was denied.

The Veteran's DDD with osteoarthritis (claimed as cervical spine condition) and right shoulder strain have been granted service connection.,Service connection has also been granted for left shoulder strain with impingement, which is considered secondary to the Veteran’s DDD with osteoarthritis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and an increased rating for his right knee disability. The Board found no evidence to support a finding of service connection, either direct or secondary, and concluded that the Veteran's current disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeals regarding the timeliness of her notices of disagreement (NODs) for service connection claims, including those for migraines, low back condition, right knee disability, and left knee disability. The appeal was dismissed as she did not timely file NODs.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection and TDIU due to insufficient clinical evidence regarding the current severity of his service-connected conditions. Additional VA examinations are needed to determine the impact of all disabilities on his ability to work.

The Veteran's claims for arthritis in the right hand and DJD in the thoracolumbar spine are granted. The claim for arthritis in the left hand is denied as it was not caused by or worsened by the service-connected right shoulder DJD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip tendonitis, left hip disorder, neck disorder (arthritis, herniated disc at C5-6, and degenerative disc disease), and back disorder are denied. The case is remanded to obtain a VA examination to determine the etiology of these conditions.