Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his degenerative arthritis of the low back, left knee, and left ankle due to inadequate VA examinations. The case is being returned to the Board for further development and examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for neck, back, psychiatric, and headache disabilities due to in-service injuries. The VA examinations are needed to determine if these conditions are related to service or not. Additionally, medical opinions are required regarding the causes of ED, low testosterone, GERD, constipation, and OSA.

The Board has decided that the evidence does not adequately address the nature and etiology of the lower extremity disabilities, including the theory of service connection for radiculopathy of the lower extremities on a secondary basis to his service connected back disability. The Veteran's case is being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back and right knee disabilities due to potential issues with the examination reports and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, low back disability, and degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder are all granted with initial ratings.,Specifically, the Veteran is now rated at 40% for his service-connected radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities effective March 15, 2018. His service-connected degenerative joint disease of the right knee is also rated at 20% effective March 15, 2018.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of a low back disability due to the Veteran's reports of lifting heavy artillery during active duty, which he believes caused his current condition. The RO is instructed to obtain VA clinical records from the Boise VA Medical Center and provide the Veteran with an examination to determine if his current low back disability had its inception in service or is otherwise causally related to an in-service disease or injury.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his back disability and pseudofolliculitis barbae are being remanded due to the addition of new evidence that has not been considered in the current rating decisions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's back disability. The Veteran should be provided a new VA examination.

The Veteran requested the withdrawal of her appeals for increased rating and TDIU prior to March 21, 2016. The Board dismissed these issues as a result.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, a sleeping disorder, hepatitis C, erectile dysfunction, GERD, and cervical spine disorder. The evidence did not establish current diagnoses or a causal link to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service treatment records and an inadequate VA examination. The Veteran's lower back disability will need further evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for low back, left hip, right hip, and COPD disabilities. The rating for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.,An effective date of July 28, 2006, for the grant of service connection for hearing loss with a 10 percent rating is dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's back and bilateral leg disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus, lumbosacral strain, and ankle contractures, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted entitlement to total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's left knee strain with posttraumatic degenerative joint disease is currently rated at 10 percent effective July 14, 2016.,A separate rating for limitation of flexion is provided as of that date.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded for referral to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration due to his service-connected lumbar condition.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's residuals of fractured left ankle and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and right leg shortening, but denied service connection for a cervical spine fracture. The decision is based on new evidence received since previous decisions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a lower back disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support his contention that his current condition began during or was caused by his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain VA treatment records from November 2012 to December 2016 for his low back disability.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability and onychomycosis, but granted service connection for tinea pedis. The decision also dismissed appeals concerning special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance and housebound status.