Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran's back disorder is related to service. The examiner needs to determine if a preexisting condition existed prior to service and if it was aggravated by service.

The claim for service connection of residuals of a low back injury, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee and hip pains have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and lumbar spine disorder due to missing service treatment records and the need to address continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back and neck disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and a back disability has been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations. The claims are also reopened due to new evidence received since the last denial.

The Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disorders were denied as not incurred or aggravated by service.,Obstructive sleep apnea was also denied as unrelated to service. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and erectile dysfunction are currently under consideration due to their potential secondary relationship with his psychiatric condition.,The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed for the PTSD claim and for the erectile dysfunction claim.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the evidence does not establish a current disability related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the merits is remanded due to incomplete records and need for additional examinations. The dental condition claim was denied, while other claims remain pending.

The petition to reopen the claims of service connection for low back disability, eye disability (diabetic retinopathy), and hypertension is granted. The petitions to reopen the claim of service connection for upper extremity peripheral neuropathy are denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, tinnitus, and a back disorder have all been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or in-service incurrence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for ddd of the lumbosacral spine, osteoarthritis of the right knee, and osteoarthritis of the left knee due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board has remanded the claim for a TDIU due to lack of substantial compliance with previous directives and the need to obtain additional VA treatment records. The Veteran is also required to submit an updated formal application for TDIU.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for left elbow and low back conditions have been denied. The Board has also remanded the issues regarding his right knee condition and a rating in excess of 10 percent for his left knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and depression, was granted. The claims for degenerative joint disease of the right knee, left knee, and lumbar spine were remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back disorder, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature of the injuries and their relationship to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient assessment of functional loss and need for a new examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back condition, including arthritis and bone spurs. The Veteran should be provided a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his back condition.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar bulging disc and degenerative joint disease, as well as radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, finding that there was no medical evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.