Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case for a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran had bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and if it is related to his in-service back injury. Service connection for chronic low back pain was granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and a bilateral lower extremity disability, finding that there is no evidence of such disabilities during active service or related to service.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the remaining issues due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's current diagnoses are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, is related to his military service. The knee disability and low back pain are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of multiple conditions, including athletes foot, costochondritis, gastrointestinal disorders, left leg scars, bilateral knee, thoracolumbar spine, and right wrist disorders.

The Board has granted the reopening of the claim for service connection for a low back disability, but denied the claim for service connection for a bilateral lower extremity nerve condition as secondary to the low back disability.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed back disability, finding that any in-service back pain was acute and resolved. The Board also found no evidence of arthritis manifesting within one year of separation from service.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current arthritis of the lumbar spine is etiologically related to his in-service injury during combat service. The symptoms have been continuous since service.

The Veteran withdrew their appeals on all issues related to service connection for various conditions, including overall total body pain, bilateral knee condition, bilateral shoulder condition, back tumor, arm nerve damage, leg nerve damage, feet nerve damage, and low back condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and special monthly compensation due to need for regular aid and attendance are remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with his claim for service connection for bipolar disorder. The effective dates of the awards will be determined after further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings for his right hip, left hip, and low back disorders. The appeals are being remanded to allow for further examinations.

The Veteran's service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy, low back disability, right knee and fibula disability, right ankle disability, and bilateral pes planus is granted. Initial ratings of 10% are assigned for each condition.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted for the periods from September 2, 2011 to December 11, 2012, and from February 2, 2013 to December 3, 2016. The issue was dismissed prior to June 19, 2011 and from December 4, 2016.

The Board has remanded the cases due to deficiencies in the reasons and bases of the January 2019 decision, specifically regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disabilities. The case is now back with the Board for further review.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The issue is now remanded for further development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and providing an adequate VA medical opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for degenerative disc disease lumbar spine, right knee disability, tension headaches, and a psychiatric disorder (to include depression), finding no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and a need for new evidence. The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but he seeks an evaluation in excess of this.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 10 percent prior to August 2, 2019. After that date, the rating was increased to 40 percent. The Board found no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes within the past year for IVDS.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral eye disability and low back disability. The Veteran is required to provide updated medical records and undergo a VA examination to determine the etiology of his current disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, neck, bilateral shoulder, bilateral knee, and bilateral hip disabilities due to outstanding development needs.