Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional development and evaluation of his conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for cervical spine, lumbosacral spine, and headache disabilities due to inadequate medical examination reports. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected conditions and provide opinions regarding their impact on employment.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee and low back disorders due to insufficient medical opinions in the August 2013 VA examination reports. The cases are now pending for further evaluation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the current conditions and active duty.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and examination, as some records are missing or not properly obtained.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical records and a need for an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's low back condition.

The Veteran's service-connected back, hip, and knee disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or maintain gainful employment, even in a sedentary capacity.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claims for sinus condition, hypertension, bilateral hallux valgus, bilateral eye disorder (including dry eyes), bilateral cataracts, sleep apnea, lumbar spine disability, recurrent subluxation of left knee, post-operative left knee with DJD, right knee DJD, and right knee instability are remanded.,The Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for left renal arteriovenous malformation (AVM), burn scars of the bilateral ankles, tender left knee scar, and linear left knee scar is also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed degeneration of the lumbar spine. A VA examination is required to determine if this condition is related to service.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting additional examinations. The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability (PTSD), lumbar spine disability, renal calculi, right foot disability, left forefoot and ankle disability, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are all at issue.

The Veteran's tinnitus and degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine claims are remanded for additional development. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient examination details for his degenerative disc disease, thoracolumbar spine and cervical spine lesion. The case will be returned for further evaluation.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine condition, left hip arthritis, and left knee arthritis are not service connected.,Service connection for the Veteran's right knee condition is also denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent prior to December 20, 2011.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability from December 20, 2011, and thereafter was also denied a higher than 40 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeals seeking higher ratings and earlier effective dates for his service-connected conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing all pending appeals.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an examination and medical nexus opinion regarding the Veteran's low back disorder, as there remains conflicting evidence on its etiology.

The claim for service connection was not reopened, and the reduction of rating from 40 percent to 10 percent effective November 1, 2016 was found improper.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disability is granted. The appeal is granted to this extent only, and the issue of service connection for a left elbow disability is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tinnitus, hearing loss in the right ear, and a back disability due to conflicting medical opinions and need for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses of cervical degenerative disc disease and joint disease are related to her in-service injuries and continuous symptoms since service separation.