Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded other issues including initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for low back disability, service connection for right knee disability, service connection for left knee disability, service connection for bilateral shoulder disability, service connection for bilateral hip disability, service connection for bilateral shin splints, and service connection for bilateral ankle disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's low back disability. The Veteran will need a new VA examination to determine if his current condition is related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for a bilateral foot disability and back disability due to insufficient medical opinions in the April 2019 VA examination report. The Veteran's arguments will be addressed by another VA medical opinion.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, anxiety and panic disorder, and a back disorder. The evidence did not support the Veteran's claims that these conditions were related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease, degenerative arthritis, and intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine as secondary to service-connected pes planus, and right knee arthritis and left knee arthritis as secondary to service-connected pes planus.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right knee and lumbar spine disorders, as well as potential service connection for a secondary lumbar spine disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded for additional examination to determine the current severity of his conditions, as well as a TDIU claim is also being remanded due to the possibility that he may be unemployable due to these disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient private treatment records and a need for a VA examination. The Veteran is not entitled to an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has decided that the claims for service connection for left ankle disorder and back disorder due to ionizing radiation or as secondary to left ankle dislocation need further review. The decision is remanded because additional medical opinions are needed regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities have been denied. His diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction has been granted a 20 percent rating effective April 2, 2013. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities have not met criteria for higher ratings.

The Veteran's left thumb scar is granted service connection. The lumbar spine, bilateral foot, and ulcerative colitis conditions are remanded for further examination and opinion. The depression and insomnia issues are also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for low back and left knee disorders, finding that the evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and service or any related disabilities.

Your service connection claims for back and left hip disabilities have been granted in a previous rating decision, so your current appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus is granted as it was reasonably shown to have incurred in service and persisted after service. The claim for a back disorder is remanded due to the need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune and/or a residual of atypical meningioma. The claims include low back condition, chronic fatigue, headaches, brain tumor, and anemia.

The Board has remanded the claims for Graves' disease, right breast cancer, and low back disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran is required to undergo additional VA examinations to address these issues.

The Veteran's back disability is granted a rating of 50 percent, but no more. The rating for his back scars remains noncompensable.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain STRs and VA treatment records, as well as for new medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed right hand condition, right shoulder disorder, back disorder, knee disorders, ankle disorders, and leg disorders.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and right knee disability due to inadequate evidence in the previous decision.