Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional medical opinions. The issues include right knee condition, bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and lumbar spine condition.

Service connection and increased ratings granted for sleep apnea, anxiety, right and left total knee replacement residuals. Service connection for a left hip disability and back disability is remanded.

The claim for service connection for a thoracolumbar disability is reopened and the appeal as to this issue is granted. The Veteran's current back disability is found to be related to his in-service jeep accident, but an addendum VA examination is needed to determine if it was present within one year of discharge.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's back disorder, including considering his service treatment records and lay statements.

The claim for service connection of a low back disability and bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, renal artery stenosis, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (heart disease), and PTSD are denied. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity are remanded. The Veteran's claim for TDIU is also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine, left knee, and right knee DJD as the evidence did not show a chronic disability in service or within presumptive periods.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for left hip disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus based on evidence showing these conditions were first manifested prior to the date of the Veteran's claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and further examination, as well as a formal TDIU application.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to incomplete or insufficient evidence, including a need for updated VA treatment records and examinations.

The Board denied service connection for neck and low back disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions were not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded two issues: service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and an effective date prior to November 4, 2015 for an increased rating of 40 percent for residuals of urinary infection. The Veteran's claims are pending due to incomplete medical records and need further development.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back condition, erectile dysfunction as secondary to hypertension, and painful urination as secondary to hypertension. Service connection was denied for sinusitis and allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and panic disorder, along with other disabilities, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since January 11, 2013. Effective May 22, 2012, the combined disability rating was sufficient for a TDIU. Effective August 23, 2018, his other service-connected disabilities are also rated at 60 percent or more.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is being remanded due to insufficient medical evidence and the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA Form 21-8940 and a VA examination to assess his functional impairment.

The Veteran's increased ratings for cervical spine degenerative disc disease and associated right and left upper extremity radiculopathy have been denied as his conditions do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) of the lumbar spine is being remanded due to deficiencies in the VA examination and further action needed.

The Board denied service connection for a headache disorder and low back disability as the Veteran's claimed injuries were not established in service.

The Board denied service connection for low back condition, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss. The right knee strain and sleep apnea issues were remanded.,Service connection was granted for hypertension.