Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition and bilateral plantar fasciitis due to inadequate examination opinions and lack of medical records.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of cervical spine, lumbar spine, and left leg disabilities. The right thigh scar, myositis, enchondroma, and right knee arthritis are also being remanded due to changes in applicable law affecting their rating determinations.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD is granted, with an effective date of June 22, 2015.,Service connection for a headache condition as secondary to service-connected PTSD is granted.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbosacral spine, finding that the current disability picture does not warrant an increased rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied across multiple conditions, including hearing loss, psychiatric disabilities, back and leg conditions, heart condition, foot conditions, sleep apnea, migraine headaches, gastrointestinal issues, eye conditions, erectile dysfunction, and heat prostration. The Board found no evidence of a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board found no evidence of current lower back, right knee, or left knee conditions during service or after. Therefore, the Veteran's claims for these conditions are denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an adequate VA examination and providing notice of SMC claims.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional development due to outdated VA examinations and inconsistencies in the Veteran's reported symptoms.

The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for scars, bilateral great toes, status post bilateral nail excision is denied.,The Veteran's initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bell’s palsy with right facial paralysis, right eye ptosis and loss of right nasolabial fold is denied.,The Veteran's initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis, right shoulder is remanded.,The Veteran's initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine is remanded.

The Veteran's hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability meeting VA criteria.,Service connection for right knee arthritis and left knee arthritis is denied due to lack of evidence showing onset during service or within one year post-service, and the absence of a compensable degree of disability.,Low back disorder (arthritis and scoliosis) is denied as there was no chronic condition in service, and current symptoms are not related to service. Scoliosis is considered congenital and thus not subject to service connection.,PTSD is denied due to lack of evidence showing onset during service or within one year post-service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for a proper examination of the Veteran's low back disability.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an evaluation in excess of 10 percent prior to August 2017, and denied a higher rating since then.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for thoracolumbar spondylosis with arthritis of spine is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess the current severity and manifestations of his condition.

The Board has granted service connection for left ankle, right ankle, neck, and back disorders on a secondary basis to the Veteran's service-connected knee disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's continuous post-service complaints of back pain since service supports his claim. The decision also refers other issues to the AOJ.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss. The case is remanded for further development regarding the Veteran's claim of degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability and a neck disability, including as secondary to his bilateral pes planus and hallux valgus. The claims are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of these disabilities.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's lumbar spine condition may be related to service, and therefore remands the case for further examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The remaining issues are remanded for further development and examination.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred on December 20, 2016, at St. Vincent’s Medical Center-South was denied because the treatment did not constitute a medical emergency and a VA facility was feasibly available.