Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board denied the reopening of a claim for service connection for a low back disability due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's low back and left hip disorders may be related to his service-connected left knee disability, but more evidence is needed for a definitive determination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus.,The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, lumbosacral spine disability (DDD/DJD), right hip strain, and left hip strain to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis and granted it, finding new and material evidence that supports a causal relationship between the Veteran's current back disability and his in-service injury.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient nexus opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine condition and need for an addendum opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been received. The lower back condition and cervical IVDS are being reviewed again as they may be related to military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete records, particularly regarding the relationship between the Veteran's back disability and his service-connected lower extremity disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings or separate diagnoses, and noted that his shaking leg syndrome was a symptom of PTSD and TBI.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, cervical spine disability, thoracic spine disability, and peripheral neuropathy disabilities of the lower extremities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability preexisted service and was not aggravated by service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease condition has been rated at 10 percent since January 2013. The Board has ordered a remand to assess the current severity of his disability and determine if an increased rating is warranted.

The Veteran's left sciatic nerve compression with left leg radiculopathy and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and low back strain have been rated, but a higher rating is not granted.

The Board has granted service connection for a headache disorder and tinnitus, but denied the remaining issues. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted while others were not.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including sleep apnea, PTSD, degenerative joint disease and spinal stenosis of the lumbar spine, sacroiliac radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, prevent him from obtaining and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal has been REMANDED for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to assess his current lumbosacral spine disorders. The issues of service connection for right shin disorder as secondary to service-connected right knee disability, evaluation in excess of 30 percent for right TKA, compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a right shoulder disorder due to VA care, temporary total evaluation for service-connected disability (claimed as right shoulder), and evaluation in excess of 30 percent for right hip bursitis and adductor tendinitis are REMANDED.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is denied. The appeal regarding the Degenerative Joint Disease and Disc Disease of the Lumbar Spine remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to missing service treatment records and other issues. The Veteran is being asked to provide additional information about his military service, including any places of treatment during his second period of active service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's low back disability is not secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities and denied service connection. The case for sleep apnea was remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a balance disorder of unknown etiology was granted with an effective date of March 28, 1979. The other issues were remanded.