Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine the appropriate rating for his left knee disability and to assess whether a back disability is related to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions and need for additional examinations. The issues include chronic low back pain, chronic diarrhea, esophageal disability, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, all related to his service-connected conditions or exposure.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective March 17, 2015. The appeals for increased ratings on the remaining issues are dismissed as the Veteran has accepted the TDIU award.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations for rating purposes, and a new examination is needed.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for back disorder, bilateral lower extremity sciatica, sleep apnea, depression, and congestive heart failure due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for lower lumbar degenerative disease with herniated nucleus pulposus is denied. The Board also remanded the TDIU claim due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's low back disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected post-operative residuals, left medial meniscectomy with arthritic changes.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disability and bilateral knee disability, finding that there is no evidence to support these conditions being related to active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, requiring an additional medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, CTS of the Right Upper Extremity, and CTS of the Left Upper Extremity. The Veteran's current diagnoses were not found to be related to his active duty service.,Service connection was also denied for a left knee disability and right knee strain. The Board found that there is no evidence of any chronic conditions or symptoms during service or within one year post-service, and the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis for these disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and missing treatment records, requiring further development.

The Board has granted service connection for lower back, right knee, right hip, and left hip disabilities based on the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine at L5-S1 is aggravated by his service-connected left fascial tear status post repair with mild residual slight disability/swelling, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU due to incomplete development, including a need for new VA examinations. The issues include spinal disorders and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a higher rating for chronic urinary tract infections due to insufficient medical evidence and need for additional examinations.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for thyroid cancer and denied his claims for service connection for left ear disorder, low back disorder, prostate disorder, and urinary frequency.,Service connection was not granted for any of the conditions due to lack of evidence linking them to active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment since July 6, 2006. The Board has granted a TDIU effective that date, along with an effective date for Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits of the same date.

The Veteran's back condition, including IVDS and radiculopathy of the lower extremities, is rated at 40 percent disabling since March 22, 2017. The appeal for higher ratings remains denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back condition has been reopened and remanded. The issues of rating the right hip stress fracture, limitation of flexion of the right hip stress fracture, and an effective date earlier than November 30, 2017 are also remanded.