Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for a low back condition and tinnitus, but remanded the claim for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient audiological examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have made him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, thus the Board has granted his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease with lumbar strain and degenerative arthritis is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a new examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), and left shoulder and finger disabilities due to incomplete VA examinations. The Veteran is not entitled to reopen his claims as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Veteran's spouse is in need of aid and attendance due to her medical conditions, including osteoporosis, retinal macular degeneration, and multiple spinal issues. The Board has determined that she requires regular assistance from others to sustain herself and protect her from daily hazards.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic lumbar spine disorder and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the evidence did not support a link to active service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claim for a total disability rating based on unemployability (TDIU) prior to April 13, 2015 due to its inextricability with other claims that were previously remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability and low back disability have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. However, these issues are still pending as they need further development.,Additional medical examinations will be scheduled to assess the current severity of the Veteran’s right shoulder bursitis and degenerative joint disease, right retropatellar knee pain syndrome, cold injury residuals in the lower extremities, heart disability, and low back disability.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is granted service connection. The claim of hypertension has been reopened and the issue is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disability and right shoulder disability due to incomplete information in previous examinations. The Veteran is also being asked to provide updated VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left and right ankle disorders, foot disorders, asthma (respiratory disorder), right shoulder disorder, right wrist disorder, left-hand disorder, right-hand disorder, lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is proximately due to his service-connected right knee disability, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeals for left and right knee conditions have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals during a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than ADHD), and a lower back condition were denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of current disabilities or a causal relationship to service.

The Veteran's initial rating for Major Depressive Disorder is denied, and his thoracolumbar spine condition remains at a 10 percent rating. The case is remanded for further development regarding the higher ratings.

The Veteran's initial increased ratings for cervical sprain with degenerative changes and degenerative disc disease, lumbosacral sprain and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and right lower extremity L5-S1 radiculopathy have been denied.

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

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information about the Veteran's left lumbar scar and its impact on his daily activities.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, but the right shoulder and neck disabilities are remanded for further examination to determine if they are secondary to the now-service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's service connection claim for neuropathy related left foot drop was granted, effective May 10, 1994. The low back disorder claim was not found to have clear and unmistakable error.

The Board has decided that the reduction of the Veteran's disability rating for his back disability from 40% to 20%, effective May 1, 2016, was not proper. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to the need for a new examination.