Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The issues of service connection for a left hip condition and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for IVDS and lumbosacral strain, as well as associated left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a right arm disorder, bilateral hearing loss, or DDD of the lumbar spine. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied. The remaining issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and DDD of the lumbar spine are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and opinions are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection, as well as his claim for an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis. The issues of entitlement to service connection have been remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the conditions in question.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his service-connected low back disability was denied because he failed to report for the required VA examination, and no justification for non-reporting was provided.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations did not comply with the remand directives and thus, the cases are being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a supplemental VA examination to address the issues of service connection for PTSD and low back disability. The examiner must provide opinions regarding whether the Veteran’s conditions are related to his military service, including as due to aggravation by his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for the residuals of trauma to teeth #9 and #10 is denied as there was no timely notice of disagreement filed.,Service connection for a lumbar spine disorder is denied because the current disability did not have its onset in service or be related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, prostate cancer, bilateral hearing loss, degenerative lumbar disc disease, tinnitus, and erectile dysfunction, are found to be so severe that they prevent the Veteran from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his thoracolumbar spine disability and associated sciatica affecting both lower extremities are remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence. The propriety of reduction in evaluation for service-connected PTSD is also remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and low back disability.

The Board has granted service connection for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, esophageal reflux disease, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 30%.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the issues of back disorder, root canal residuals, hemorrhoids, and bilateral flatfoot has been remanded due to new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s symptoms did not warrant a higher than 70 percent evaluation, and his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease/thoracic outlet syndrome is related to his military service, granting service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and hemorrhoids have been granted service connection. The left foot disability, right foot disability, and low back disability have all been denied.,Service connection for a bilateral foot disability has not been established due to lack of current diagnosis.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, osteoarthritis lumbar spine with scoliosis, radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, and a TDIU. The case is remanded to consider additional evidence received since the last rating decision.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted service connection.,The Veteran's anxiety disorder has been remanded for further examination to determine its etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back disability, right and left knee disabilities, right and left shoulder disabilities, acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), migraine disability, abscess in genital area, and right hip condition due to potential issues with medical evidence not being reviewed.