Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbar injury, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disability to obtain additional evidence and provide a VA examination. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability has been reopened, but the evidence does not support granting this claim.,Service connection was denied for radiculopathy of both the left and right lower extremities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a lower back disability is remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence and an addendum opinion.

The Board has denied service connection for a thyroid disorder and a lower back disorder, but has remanded the issue of service connection for a penile disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's lower back disability is related to his service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims and rating determinations for various conditions, including right knee surgery, bone spurs of the left foot, left lower extremity radiculopathy, degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine low back strain, and sciatic nerve (right lower extremity radiculopathy).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is dismissed as the benefit was granted in a May 2018 rating decision. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for a low back disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability and a right ankle disability due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions. The Veteran is presumed to have had an in-service injury, but there are conflicting opinions on whether his current diagnoses are related to service.

The Board denied service connection for thoracolumbar and cervical spine disabilities, finding that the evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and active service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for low back disability and cervical spine disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly her lower back and bilateral hip conditions, render her unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. As a result, TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection is reopened, and the appeal is granted to this extent. The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen his claims of entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder). However, further development is needed as the Board finds that remand is necessary in order to obtain an addendum opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine disorders.

The appeals for service connection and rating have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was granted an increased rating of 40 percent effective August 14, 2015.,An initial compensable rating for tinnitus is denied. The maximum schedular evaluation (10%) has been assigned.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an examination to determine if the Veteran's lower back disorder and bilateral foot disorder are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the merits have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded two issues: entitlement to service connection for a low back disability and entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has denied service connection for a low back condition and remanded the issue of assigning a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD. The Veteran must be provided an SOC regarding the PTSD rating claim.

The Veteran's low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, and type II diabetes mellitus were not shown as chronic in service or within the applicable presumptive period. The Board found no evidence of continuity of symptomatology for any condition.,While the Veteran reported having hearing difficulties, there is no audiometric evidence showing that he had a bilateral hearing loss disability considered a VA disability for which service connection could be granted.,The Veteran's tinnitus was not shown as chronic in service or within the applicable presumptive period. The Board found no evidence of continuity of symptomatology for this condition.,Hypertension was not shown as chronic in service, and there is no clinical evidence suggesting that it manifested to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period. The Board also found no evidence of continuity of symptomatology for hypertension.,Type II diabetes mellitus was not shown as chronic in service or within the applicable presumptive period. The Board found no evidence of continuity of symptomatology for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further medical opinions.

Service connection is granted for chloracne due to herbicide agent exposure.,Service connection is denied for umbilical hernia and abdominal pain.,Service connection is denied for low back disability, allergic rhinitis, ruptured lung status post staple correction with hemoptysis, heart disability (claimed as heart palpitations), facial skin cancer, colonic polyps, and hypertension.