Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for left sacroiliac joint strain. The issues of service connection for lumbar spine degenerative changes, lumbar spine IVDS, and bilateral lower extremities radiculopathy are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to deficiencies in previous VA medical opinions. The case must be returned to obtain new VA medical opinions addressing the nature and etiology of his lumbar spine, cervical spine, right arm, and left wrist disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative changes and strain of the lumbar spine, finding that it is etiologically related to the Veteran's in-service injury during basic training.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration due to a failure to obtain necessary medical records, particularly those related to the Veteran's back and knee disorders. The VA is instructed to seek these records and provide an addendum opinion if needed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability has been granted. The claim for service connection for a right ankle condition is being remanded due to the need for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted for a left ankle disability and right ear hearing loss, and entitlement to service connection was denied for arthritis of the lumbar spine and COPD.

The Board vacated the June 2019 decision and granted service connection for hypertension. The effective dates for other conditions were denied.

The Board has remanded the cases due to new evidence being added to the record, and the Veteran did not waive AOJ consideration of this evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that his current condition is not related to his military service and did not present within one year of separation.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lower back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy was granted, with the effective date being June 11, 2014. The Veteran is now in receipt of a 20 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy from that date.

Service connection has been granted for tinnitus, residuals left knee injury, cervical disc disease, and low back pain.,The Veteran's service connection claims were reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various knee, hip, and cervical spine disabilities due to additional VA-generated evidence. The issues include left knee degenerative joint disease, right knee degenerative joint disease (post ACL tear and arthroscopic repair), lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, cervical spine strain, right hip degenerative joint disease, left hip degenerative joint disease, right hand tendonitis, left hand tendonitis, and muscle tension headaches.

The Board has denied service connection for a low back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The case is being remanded to obtain additional evidence and provide the Veteran with a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lower back condition and bilateral hearing loss have been reopened. The Board has determined that new evidence received since the March 2014 rating decision raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims, but further examination is needed to determine if they are related to service.

The Veteran's low back condition is granted service connection, and his PTSD is granted an initial 70 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for dermatitis and lumbar strain were denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s conditions did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the complexity of the issues, including the need to consider neurologic abnormalities associated with his low back disability.

The Board has withdrawn the Veteran's appeals for ratings in excess of 20 percent for residuals of fractured right hip and pelvis (impairment of the thigh) and calcific sub deltoid bursitis, residuals of a fractured right shoulder. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and provide an addendum opinion regarding service connection for lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claims for service connection for lower back condition and psychosis (claimed as mental condition) was granted. The remaining issues of service connection were either denied or dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's back condition and his service.