Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The claim for service connection for a back disability has been reopened, but the Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's right acromioclavicular joint arthritis and TDIU claims are also being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral shoulder, back, and neck disabilities due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions. The AOJ is instructed to locate missing in-service accident records and obtain any relevant private treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbosacral spine and right knee conditions have been denied. The lumbosacral spine condition is rated at 10 percent, effective from August 26, 2008 to July 25, 2018, and the right knee condition remains rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, and his radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities are each rated at 10 percent. The Board has remanded these issues for further development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for back condition, gout in feet, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity due to new and material evidence. The appeals are granted on these issues.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions, as there is insufficient medical evidence to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation as of June 1, 2008.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension at the aid and attendance or housebound rates was denied as he does not meet the criteria for either benefit due to his functional limitations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability, including its onset during service and any relationship to her military duties.

The Board has remanded the cases of macular degeneration and back disability for further development. The appellant is asked to provide proof that she paid for the last funeral expenses.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for a back disorder including secondary to spontaneous pneumothorax, but denied the claim itself due to lack of evidence linking the current condition to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his service connection claim for degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease in the lumbar spine. However, the claim itself remains denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Issues regarding bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, and right wrist disability are remanded for further examination and analysis.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the bilateral ankles and low back muscle spasm have been rated based on their current severity. The appeal is remanded for further development regarding service connection claims.,For the period prior to January 8, 2013, the Veteran’s degenerative joint disease of the right and left ankles was characterized by moderate limitation of motion. Since January 8, 2013, it has been characterized by marked limitation of motion. The low back muscle spasm is characterized by limited range of motion, painful motion, and regular use of assistive devices.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board denied service connection for a low back condition and a bilateral knee condition, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to her service-connected ITB Syndrome or active duty service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral DDD has been rated at 40% since April 25, 2012. The TDIU claim is granted as the service-connected disabilities prevent her from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and evidence review.