Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but further evidence is needed to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back condition and a bilateral foot condition due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset during service or relationship to in-service injuries.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder did not manifest in service or within one year thereafter and is not otherwise related to his military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the appeals are remanded due to insufficient evidence of a nexus between his current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD, and he is awarded a 60 percent rating for his lumbar spine disability.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral pes planus, low back disorder (claimed as secondary to bilateral pes planus), and bilateral knee disorder (claimed as secondary to bilateral pes planus).

The Veteran's request for higher ratings for his lower extremity radiculopathies and lumbar spine disability is remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any back disorder, as well as whether it is related to service. The claim will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and right knee disabilities, both of which are secondary to his service-connected left leg disabilities.

The Veteran's initial rating for a lumbar spine disability prior to September 9, 2013 was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for an increased rating.,A rating greater than 20 percent from September 9, 2013 for a cervical spine disability was also denied due to lack of incapacitating episodes and existing range of motion findings.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim of service connection for kidney cancer was granted. Service connection is also granted for the disability and its residuals. The issue of service connection for back disability, which may be related to the service-connected kidney cancer, has been remanded.

The Veteran's left and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted a 20 percent rating. The low back disability has also been granted, but the Veteran is still seeking an increased rating. The case is being remanded for further evaluation of his low back condition.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back condition but denied service connection for his right knee condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing inpatient treatment records from Martin Army Hospital and outstanding Social Security Administration records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical and lumbar spine due to insufficient evidence in the April 2010 VA examination.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 10 percent, and the left lower extremity radiculopathy is also rated at 10 percent. The Board has denied increased ratings for these conditions.,The Veteran's low back strain disability is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board has remanded this issue to obtain additional evidence and schedule a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the regulatory thresholds for an award of a schedular TDIU rating. However, his claim may be considered on an extra-schedular basis due to the functional impairment resulting from his service-connected back disability and radiculopathy.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and related issues has been dismissed due to the death of the claimant.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and bilateral knee disorders due to the need for further development and readjudication.

The Board has remanded multiple claims for earlier effective dates due to the receipt of additional relevant evidence.