Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lower back condition and keratoconus, bilateral eyes due to insufficient evidence in some cases. The Veteran will need to undergo further examinations to determine the etiology of his conditions.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions regarding service connection for right shoulder and back conditions are inadequate. The Veteran's right shoulder and back disabilities may be related to his service-connected cervical spine disability, but further examination is needed to determine this.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection of right knee disability, acne vulgaris, and lower back disability due to new and material evidence. The issues are REMANDED for further development.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral wrist tenosynovitis has been reopened and granted.,Service connection for a lumbar spine disorder is denied as the condition did not manifest within one year of service discharge and there is no evidence of continuity of symptomatology. The Board finds that the Veteran’s current back disability is more likely related to his civilian work rather than service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability. The right foot disability remains under review and remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral shoulder, neck and back disabilities are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess the etiology of her current conditions.

The Board has found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and left ankle disability are related to service-connected conditions, but further development is needed for a final determination.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back condition and denied service connection for his acquired psychiatric disorder. The low back condition is related to in-service injury, while there is no credible evidence of an in-service stressor or event that would support a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The issue of service connection for PTSD (unspecified) remains unresolved.,The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and earlier effective dates for his acquired psychiatric disorder, low back disability, left ankle disability, and right eye disability are being remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted as secondary to service-connected left hip and left knee disabilities.,Service connection for a lower back disability, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus type 2 are granted.,An initial rating of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss prior to May 23, 2018, is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected COPD has worsened since his last examination, and a remand is needed to obtain a new VA examination. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the rating issue.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for back and left shoulder disabilities is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination, as well as the retrieval of any outstanding VA and private treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, but the dates of his employment need to be clarified.

The Board has granted service connection for thoracic and lumbosacral spondylosis and lumbosacral degenerative disc disease, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service fall. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for a cervical spine disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, and a left knee disability due to conflicting opinions from VA examiners. The Veteran contends his current disabilities are related to an in-service motorcycle accident.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for a left ankle disability, right ankle disability, and low back disability. The claim for hypertension remains denied. The case is remanded for further development regarding service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for residuals of a head injury was denied as there is no evidence of chronic residuals from the 1974 Carlinville, Illinois car wreck.,Service connection for thoracolumbar DDD with radiculopathy was denied due to lack of service origin and post-service low back injuries. The Veteran's current condition is unrelated to his military service.,The claim for glaucoma, claimed as increased intraocular pressure, was denied because the evidence does not show a service origin for the condition.,Service connection for hypertension was denied due to lack of service origin.

The Board has determined that there is not enough evidence to support the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, as they are not related to his active duty military service or secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and a need for additional medical opinions. The claims will be reconsidered after all requested development is completed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spinal stenosis and disc degeneration status post-surgical interventions are related to his military service, granting service connection for these conditions.