Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including posttraumatic stress disorder, and a lumbar spine disability. The decision found that the Veteran's current conditions were not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include lumbar spine disability, left and right lower extremity conditions, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depression, anxiety, and depressive disorder), left knee pain, right knee pain, right ankle pain, left ankle pain, and low back disorder due to outstanding VA treatment records and inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee, foot, and lower/middle back conditions due to new evidence. However, these claims are remanded as further medical examination is needed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral back strain, traumatic brain injury, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination, including a new VA examination for the Veteran's low back condition and an assessment of any right leg disability. The issues of entitlement to increased rating for service-connected low back strain and service connection for right lower leg condition are being considered together due to their interrelated nature.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and neuropathy of the right lower extremity have been denied. The Board found no new evidence to reopen the previously denied claims for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and a need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right knee, neck, and low back disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the nature of these conditions and their relationship to service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability should be remanded due to insufficient evidence of current disability and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder condition and low back condition due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran contends his current conditions are related to in-service lifting and moving duties, as well as concurrent onset of symptoms with his other condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to insufficient medical evidence on file of current findings reflecting the nature, extent and severity of the Veteran's disabilities. The claims will be remanded for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's knee and spine disabilities, as well as his ankle disabilities. The main reasons for remand include obtaining additional VA treatment records and conducting a new examination to determine if the Veteran’s bilateral ankle disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine and/or knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, back disability, and skin disability are remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it may be impacted by these other claims.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected left knee disability, right knee degenerative joint disease, and degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine are being remanded due to inadequate examination findings. The case will be further reviewed with a new VA examination.

The Board has granted the reopening of previously denied claims for service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, finding that new evidence establishes current disabilities. Service connection is granted based on direct evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lower back condition but has remanded the issues of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities due to lack of a medical opinion.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back condition and psychiatric disability have been denied. For the period prior to July 31, 2018, the Veteran’s low back condition is not productive of incapacitating episodes or ankylosis, resulting in a rating no higher than 10 percent. For the period from July 31, 2018, his low back condition does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as forward flexion was at least 50 degrees and he did not have favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine. The Veteran's psychiatric disability is rated at 50 percent prior to August 31, 2012; 30 percent from August 31, 2012 to June 24, 2019; and in excess of 70 percent thereafter under Diagnostic Code 9411. The Veteran's psychiatric disability is rated at the maximum available rating.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, left wrist disorder, and tinnitus are granted service connection. The right wrist disorder is denied service connection. Service connection for duodenal ulcer is also denied.,Service connection is established for a lumbar spine disorder, left wrist disorder, and tinnitus.

An evaluation greater than 40 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is denied.,An evaluation greater than 20 percent for a left ankle injury, status post-surgical reconstruction, is denied.,TDIU prior to October 30, 2014, is remanded.