Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to missing records and additional development.

The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is now rated at 20 percent effective April 18, 2019. The lumbar spine condition remains rated at 40 percent from April 18, 2019.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for MS, right foot drop, microscopic hematuria, low back pain, and eye disability (claimed as blindness) to allow for further development. The Veteran's right eye vision loss is being evaluated in relation to his MS.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions and inextricably intertwined issues.

The Board has ordered a remand for further examination and evaluation of the Veteran's service-connected low back disability to determine its current severity, as the previous November 2017 VA examination is unclear and lacks detail.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to address the severity of his service-connected right knee disorders, as well as the nature and etiology of any left knee disorder, back disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The issues include rating claims and service connection claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for new examinations and additional evidence.

The Board has granted a TDIU rating for the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, but has remanded the issue of an increased PTSD rating due to outstanding VA records.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA and headaches as secondary to OSA. The back condition, acquired psychiatric condition, and right ankle condition are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, as well as consideration of all relevant evidence.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy are rated at 20 percent each, but the Board denied a higher rating for these conditions. The neck disorder was not service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records. The TDIU claim is denied as the Veteran is currently employed full-time.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of his back condition due to insufficient evidence regarding its etiology and a need for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his chronic strain lumbosacral spine disability is being remanded due to inadequate examination findings regarding the severity and manifestations of his condition.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his lumbar degenerative disc disease and spondylosis due to inconsistencies in the examination report, and the need to obtain private treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the Veteran’s hypertension to service, and determined that he could perform sedentary employment despite his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar disability with postoperative scarring was evaluated at 20 percent, and the Board found that it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of forward flexion or ankylosis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hearing loss, DJD of the lumbar spine, and DJD of the right knee due to insufficient medical opinions regarding service connection.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disability and remanded the issues of initial ratings for left ankle disorder and thoracolumbar spine disorder.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for back and left knee disabilities, both secondary to his service-connected bilateral ankle and right knee disabilities. The decision is based on evidence that suggests these disabilities have been aggravated by his service-connected conditions.