Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to incomplete development of evidence.,Additional examinations are needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran’s bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for upper back, left ring finger nerve damage, hypertension, and right knee disabilities have been denied.,The Veteran's bilateral foot disability has not resulted in a higher rating than 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed for the issues of service connection for sinusitis, headaches, and sleep apnea; an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee tendonitis with tendinosis; an initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD; and an increased disability rating in excess of 10 percent prior to June 3, 2016 and in excess of 20 percent since then for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right shoulder adhesive capsulitis, finding that the conditions are secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.,Service connection is denied for a thoracolumbar spine disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support causation or aggravation by his service-connected knee disabilities and that the fall in 2003 did not cause his current condition.

A rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's anterolisthesis of L3 over L4 with increased mild diffused DDD and arthritis with chronic lumbar strain is granted effective March 4, 2010.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate examination, requiring a new VA examination for the service-connected lumbar spine strain.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for additional development due to concerns with the VA examiner’s medical opinions regarding his service connection claims. The appellant was provided VA examinations in April 2017, which resulted in diagnoses of patellofemoral pain syndrome of the bilateral knees, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and degenerative arthritis the cervical spine.

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

The claims for increased ratings for piriformis syndrome of the right hip and left hip are denied.,Beginning May 8, 2019, a 40 percent disability rating for the Veteran’s low back strain is granted.

The application to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability was denied. The right knee rating reduction from 20% to 10% was also denied.

The Board has denied service connection for COPD and remanded the claims for thoracolumbar spine disorder, left foot disorder, and right foot disorder. The case is being returned to the AOJ for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine disability and tension headaches are remanded due to the need for updated medical evaluations.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding that it was incurred in or caused by military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including its impact on his bilateral leg numbness and tingling. A new VA examination is needed to determine the current nature and severity of the lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for migraine headaches is granted, but the claims for a lumbar spine disability and TDIU are remanded due to need for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbosacral spine disorder, finding that the current condition is not related to active duty service and there was no evidence of complaints or diagnoses in service.

The Veteran's back disability, including degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of L4 to S1, as well as radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, has increased in severity since his last VA examination. The Board has ordered a remand for an updated VA examination to assess the current nature and severity of these disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, including degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease status post laminectomy and discectomy L4-L5 with lumbar radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, is etiologically related to symptoms noted during service. As a result, the claim for service connection has been granted.