Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back disorder, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and that arthritis did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of discharge. The Board also found conflicting statements from the Veteran regarding when his symptoms began.

Service connection is granted for a right foot drop disability.,Service connection is also granted for a lower back disability, with the presumption of service connection based on continuity of symptomatology.

The Board denied service connection for left knee and low back disabilities, finding that the Veteran did not meet the in-service requirement or provide a nexus between his current conditions and service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and lower back disability due to the need for additional VA examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected disabilities and their etiology.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to evidence of worsening symptomatology and a need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings prior to June 25, 2018 was denied for his service-connected lumbar spine disability, allergic rhinitis, and sinusitis.,No new evidence or changes in the Veteran's conditions were presented that would warrant a different outcome.

From October 17, 2012 to January 16, 2018, the Veteran was granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities of depressive disorder, lumbosacral strain, and cervical strain.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of low back, left knee, right knee, or right foot disorders and therefore denied her claims for service connection.

The Veteran is granted a separate 10 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy from May 25, 2007. The issue of service connection for headaches secondary to low back disorder was reasonably raised by the record and referred to the AOJ.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for right knee condition, left knee condition, and back condition. The claim for acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) has been denied.,Service connection for a back condition is denied as the evidence does not support a link between injury in service and current disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine, left shoulder, bilateral foot, obstructive sleep apnea, sinusitis, and asthma disabilities due to additional evidentiary development being necessary.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the cause of death and Agent Orange exposure. The appellant seeks service connection for the cause of her husband's death, which is believed to be related to his service-connected conditions and potential Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for sarcoidosis, back pain, PTSD, and a pulmonary condition due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's STRs are silent on his current conditions, but he provided testimony indicating that his injuries occurred during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for polycystic left kidney disease and low back disability due to insufficient rationale in the VA examination reports, particularly regarding whether service-connected hypertension caused or aggravated his conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected coccyx, sacroiliac joints and symphysis pubis injury with lumbar spine DDD has been granted a rating of 40 percent from August 31, 2018. The TDIU claim is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development and examination of the Veteran's bilateral facet disease of the lumbosacral spine.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for hypertension, left hip condition, back condition, and sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence or need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim for the period from June 17, 2008 to June 15, 2009 due to the finality of the previous decision and the need for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran seeks SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person due to his service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran also seeks increased ratings for asthma, lumbar degenerative disc disease, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU prior to March 31, 2015.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and need for additional development. The Veteran's mental health, hypertension, cervical spine disability, and back disability are all under review.