Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a back disability and TDIU due to the need for further development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and scheduling an appropriate VA examination.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was granted a rating of 40 percent effective October 9, 2017. Prior to this date, the disability was rated at 10 percent.,The Veteran's left knee and right knee disabilities were each granted a rating of 10 percent effective October 9, 2017.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine DDD and bilateral flatfeet, claiming as metatarsalgia. The new evidence supports that these conditions began during active service or within one year of discharge.,Resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, his cervical spine DDD and bilateral flatfeet are now considered to have been incurred during service.

The Veteran's appeal has been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding her service-connected disabilities. The issues of entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for sinusitis, service connection for a lumbar spine disability, service connection for a left hip disability, and an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right hip strain status post fracture are all remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability is reopened, but the case is remanded to obtain an addendum medical opinion regarding whether her low back disability was aggravated by her service-connected caesarean section residuals or etiologically related to her period of active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes alone does not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back disability, bilateral knee and ankle disabilities, gastrointestinal disability, and kidney disability due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to deficiencies in the duty to assist and the adequacy of the June 2016 VA examination. The Veteran will be provided an additional VA examination concerning his low back disability, and SSA records must be requested and associated with the claims file.

The Board has denied service connection for sleep apnea, memory loss, back disability, bilateral knee disabilities, left foot disability, tinnitus, migraine headaches, and erectile dysfunction (ED). The claims are being remanded to obtain VA examinations and determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a dental disability, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and lumbosacral spine disability due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran will be scheduled for updated VA examinations to determine the current nature and severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability has been reopened. The Board found new and material evidence to support the reopening of this claim.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was denied as there is no evidence linking it to service or any other service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and compliance with VA examination requirements.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for clothing allowances for his back brace issued in 2017 and 2018, finding that the brace causes wear and tear to his clothing.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected lumbar spine disability is being remanded due to the need for a retroactive opinion regarding range of motion testing.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected low back pain associated with arthritis of left ankle and foot due to inadequate examination. The Veteran needs a new VA examination that includes testing for pain on both active and passive motion, in weight-bearing and nonweight-bearing, and describes functional limitations during flare-ups.

The Board has granted an effective date of October 20, 2006 for the assignment of a 20 percent rating for lumbosacral spine disability. The Veteran's claim for increased rating and service connection are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been granted. The case is remanded for further evaluations on the issues of increased ratings for bilateral hip disorders, left knee disorder, and TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis status post meniscectomy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease. As these claims have been resolved in favor of the Veteran, they are no longer under appeal.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus is service connected. The remaining claims for right ankle disability, left hip and leg disabilities, back disability, bilateral hand disabilities, and PTSD are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for a back disability, PTSD, and obstructive sleep apnea. Service connection is granted for these conditions.