Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal requires remand for additional development and evaluation of his service-connected disabilities, as well as for clarification regarding his claim for service connection for adjustment disorder with depressed mood. The claims are being returned to the RO for further action.

The Board has determined that there is not enough evidence to support a finding that the Veteran's current low back disability is related to his active service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding no competent evidence relating the Veteran's current condition to his active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to evidence suggesting that his low back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy have worsened since his last VA examination in March 2016. The Veteran is also required to provide or authorize VA to obtain records of his relevant treatment.

The Board has granted service connection for left ankle arthritis but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The remaining issues have been remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as the Board cannot consider it in its first instance and must be referred to VA’s Director, Compensation Service, for initial consideration. The evidence shows that the Veteran has been unable to engage in substantial gainful activity due to his service-connected disabilities since October 2009.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar strain and spondylolisthesis/multilevel disc degeneration were incurred in service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran. Service connection was granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral eye condition is not service-connected as refractive error does not qualify for VA compensation.,There is no current diagnosis of hypertension, and the claim for secondary service connection to PTSD is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and unverified stressors. The AOJ is required to obtain additional VA medical opinions, verify service dates, and attempt to corroborate the Veteran’s reported stressors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral plantar fasciitis, lumbar degenerative disc disease, and unspecified trauma disorder due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and effective dates prior to August 10, 2016 were denied.,VA found no evidence of a claim having been filed prior to August 10, 2016.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied due to lack of evidence supporting the claimed in-service stressor. The claims for secondary service connection for degenerative arthritis and direct service connection for DM and Parkinson's disease were also denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's lower back condition is rated as 20 percent disabling from January 1, 2004 and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is remanded for further development.

The appeal was denied as untimely and the claims for increased disability rating and service connection were not addressed due to untimeliness. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, headaches/migraines, and sleep disability have been reopened with new evidence submitted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and lack of evidence addressing her lay statements regarding continuity of symptoms since separation. The cases are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and clarification, including service connection claims for various disabilities. The appeals are currently pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions, specifically bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, right arm ulnar neuropathy, and bilateral lower extremity nerve disability. The VA is instructed to provide additional examinations and opinions.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic low back disability and TDIU due to the Veteran's pre-existing condition that existed prior to service, which was not aggravated by service. The Board found clear and unmistakable evidence of this.

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The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability was rated at 10 percent prior to June 2011, and the Board denied an increased rating.