Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain due to inadequate examination, and further development is needed.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and a right hip disability, finding insufficient evidence to link these conditions to the Veteran's active military service.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, as his combination of migraines, lumbosacral disc bulge, left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to the lumbar spine, and depressive disorder makes him unable to secure or follow gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's back condition is related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate VA examinations. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU prior to July 18, 2011 have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for entitlement to service connection and increased ratings due to failure of VA examinations scheduled in March 2019. The Veteran's address is unclear, so another attempt at scheduling the Veteran for new VA examinations should be made.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral knee disability, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a low back condition, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran is required to provide updated VA and private treatment records, complete audiometric testing, and undergo a VA examination for his back and ears.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been rated at 10% and 20%, respectively, for the entire appeal period. The appeals for higher ratings are denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back disorder, neck disorder, and bilateral tinea pedis. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current back disability is related to his service. Additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination, is required.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 20 percent from July 10, 2013 to the present.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a lumbar spine disability due to inadequate medical opinions and need for updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's arthritis of the cervical spine is granted service connection.,His IVDS of the lumbar spine has been restored to a 40 percent rating, and his TDIU is also restored.,Effective April 26, 2012, he received separate compensable ratings for femoral radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities.

The Board has denied service connection for a low back disability and granted service connection for tinnitus. The issues of service connection for left and right knee disabilities are being remanded.,Service connection is not established for the Veteran's claimed low back disability, as there is no evidence that it began during or was caused by his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for thoracolumbar spondylosis was dismissed due to his death.

The Board has determined that the reduction in the rating for lumbosacral strain from 20 percent to 10 percent, effective March 1, 2015 was not proper and has ordered a remand for further evaluation of the Veteran's condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease (IHD) due to unclear evidence regarding whether he had IHD at any point during his service. The Veteran is also denied service connection for cervical and lumbar spine conditions, as well as neuropathies of the upper and lower extremities.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral knee disability, but denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability.