Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, left upper extremity disorder, right-hand disorder, lumbar spine disorder, glaucoma, and cervical spondylosis at C6-C7 due to additional evidence being added to the Veteran's file.

The Board has granted a 100% rating for the Veteran's respiratory disability since June 26, 2018. The lumbar spine and bilateral elbow/wrist conditions are denied service connection as they are not related to active service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD does not cause the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, thus denying his claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board denied service connection for low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to July 5, 2018. The Board granted TDIU based on the combined disability rating of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding his back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and respiratory disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine with scoliosis. The examiner is requested to address range of motion, flare-ups, and any objective neurologic impairment such as radiculopathy.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of February 20, 2013 for the grant of a TDIU.,The Veteran is also granted an effective date of July 12, 2015 for eligibility to Chapter 35 Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hysterectomy, low back condition, and seizure disorder due to the Veteran's incompetence and lack of examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder and right ankle disabilities due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to service and rejecting the Veteran's contention that his back pain started during service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to new legal precedent regarding service connection and pain as a disability. The Veteran's low back condition, including scoliosis, will need to be evaluated by VA medical professionals. Additionally, there is uncertainty about whether the right knee meniscus tear is related to his in-service ACL repair.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations for the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are inadequate, and thus remanded to obtain further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and examination, as well as to consider new evidence. The Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus, low back disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and PTSD are pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for neck disorder, headaches (secondary to neck disorder), lower back disorder, right and left lower extremity neuropathy due to inextricably intertwined issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate prior VA examinations. The Veteran will be scheduled for a new VA spine examination to evaluate his service-connected low back and cervical spine disabilities, including forward flexion and combined range of motion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete STRs.

The Board has granted service connection for a degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding that it is related to an in-service back injury.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back condition but has remanded her claims for left and right Achilles tendon conditions due to insufficient evidence.

The appeals for service connection of the right elbow disorder, right knee disorder, tinnitus, hemorrhoids, and bilateral tinea pedis have been dismissed.,The application to reopen the finally disallowed claims of service connection for a bilateral hip disorder (Legg-Perthes disease) and lumbar spondylolisthesis has been granted. The appeals for these conditions are remanded.