Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has restored the Veteran's previously assigned 40 percent rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability, effective October 1, 2009. The improvement in the condition noted by VA examinations was not maintained under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is dismissed. The AOJ is required to remand the issues of increased evaluations for bilateral hearing loss, right lateral collateral ligament sprain (right ankle condition), and remote history of right hallux fracture (right great toe).

The Board has granted service connection for spondylolisthesis of L4-5 with unusual fracture patterns of the right L4 pedicle and left L5 pedicle, as well as degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, on a presumptive basis due to chronic symptoms in service.

The Board has denied service connection for a low back disability, left knee disability, right shoulder disability, joint arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claims are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,Service connection is not granted for a low back disability as there is no evidence of such during active service or related to an in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and claustrophobia. The claims are being remanded due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection for degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine should be effective from June 30, 2014. However, due to new evidence added since the last decision, the case is being remanded back to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further review.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral knee and low back disabilities due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for an examination to determine if any current disabilities are related to military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back and bilateral knee disabilities, as secondary to service-connected ankle disabilities. The examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to the service-connected ankle disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back condition, a low back scar, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy. The decision also grants the reopening of the previously denied claim for a low back condition.

The Veteran's right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis is rated at 20% and remains unchanged.,For the period prior to September 20, 2018, the Veteran’s lumbar strain warrants a 40% rating. Since then, it does not warrant any higher rating due to lack of ankylosis.,The Veteran's lumbar strain is rated at 40% since September 20, 2018 and remains unchanged.,Service connection for left hand disability and right hand disability are remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition, to include as secondary to a left knee condition, and for a left knee condition. The decision found no evidence linking the current conditions to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a substantial gap in medical records from 1998 to 2008 and the need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations of his lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, left knee disability (status post ACL reconstruction), and right knee patellofemoral syndrome have been dismissed as the Veteran requested withdrawal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, low back disorder, and hypercholesterolemia due to potential issues with causation or etiology.

The Veteran's appeal for reopening his claim of service connection for left knee chondromalacia patellae was granted. The appeals for other conditions were remanded.

The Veteran's upper back condition, diagnosed as a cervical strain and degenerative arthritis of the spine, is found to be related to service. Service connection for this condition has been granted.

The Veteran is granted a higher initial rating of 40 percent for lumbar degenerative disease prior to December 23, 2014. The issue of entitlement to TDIU prior to July 4, 2014 is remanded due to the need for clarification regarding the Veteran's income and employment status during that period.

The Board has denied service connection for lumbar spine disorder, leg cramps, sleep apnea, and rashes. The case is remanded to obtain an opinion regarding the etiology of hypertension due to exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for RLE radiculopathy and lumbar spine disability has been remanded due to inadequate reasons and bases in the previous decision.,The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is intertwined with the evaluation of the orthopedic symptoms of the Veteran’s low back disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened, and the Board is remanding the case to obtain additional medical opinions regarding his hearing loss, vision loss, and back condition.