Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The application to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for a right knee disability is denied. The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a skin disorder and low back disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination opinion regarding whether the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is related to his in-service activities.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of a right knee disorder and lower back disorder, both claimed as secondary to his left leg amputation below the knee, were denied. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or any in-service injury.

The Board has denied service connection for the left shoulder disability due to a bar on benefits based on the Veteran's other than honorable discharge. The back and neck disabilities are remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding their onset during active duty.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left ankle fracture, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and bruxism secondary to PTSD due to lack of recent medical examination and insufficient nexus opinions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral elbow, lumbar spine, bilateral hip, and bilateral ankle disabilities due to lack of current disability or evidence that they were incurred during active duty.

The Veteran's appeals for reopening service connection, increased disability ratings, and earlier effective dates have been withdrawn. The Board has dismissed these matters.

The Board has denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, but has remanded other issues including reopening the claim for tinnitus.,Other service connection claims have been remanded due to incomplete verification of periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA.

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

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for left knee disability as secondary to his service-connected degenerative disc disease, finding that there is no clear and unmistakable evidence that a pre-existing left knee condition existed prior to service. The Board also found that the Veteran’s current left knee disability is not related to or aggravated by his service-connected degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected back disability is being remanded due to the need for a new examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations to determine the etiology of his left knee, lumbar spine, and foot disabilities. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the right knee rating issue.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, low back, and left knee degenerative joint disease were denied as new evidence did not show a relationship to service.,The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was remanded due to the need for further examination.

The Board denied service connection for chronic lumbar spine disorder, chronic left foot disorder, and chronic right ankle disorder as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including dental cavities, neck disorder, back disorder, left ankle disorder, and right ankle disorder. The reasons given were that the evidence did not show a relationship to service or an in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to comply with a previous remand order, specifically regarding the Veteran's service treatment records that show complaints of low back pain and treatment for low back strain during his active duty.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension and coronary artery disease was reopened. Service connection for low back disability is granted with a 40% rating, but not higher.

The Board has remanded the claim for a low back disability, finding that further examination and opinion are needed to determine if it is at least as likely as not related to service-connected bilateral foot disabilities or aggravated by them.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition is granted, and the appeal is remanded to determine if it is related to his active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were related to in-service injuries.,Service connection was also denied for benign prostatic hypertrophy/hyperplasia and lower urinary tract symptoms with obstruction. There was no evidence of onset during service or relationship to in-service injuries.