Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions on secondary service connection for a low back disability, which may be related to service-connected bilateral foot disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, and a psychiatric disorder due to incomplete development. Additional records from Social Security Administration (SSA) are needed.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, other than partial sacralization of L5, finding that the Veteran's current degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period or establish continuity of symptomatology since service. The Board also found no evidence linking his current disabilities to an in-service injury.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, but denied the claims for higher ratings of right and left knee disabilities and SMC prior to May 1, 2018.

The Board denied service connection for chronic headache disorder, chronic lumbar spine disorder, and depressive disorder due to lack of evidence showing a current disability or a link between the conditions and active service.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for lumbar spine, cervical spine, and bilateral foot disabilities due to missing service treatment records regarding an in-service fall from a telephone pole.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic lower back disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder due to inadequate examination reports.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy is being remanded due to the need for additional development.,Service connection was denied for all claimed conditions as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating of 40 percent for her lumbar spine disability, which includes mild foramen stenosis and bulging disc L3-4 with intervertebral disc syndrome, has been granted. The effective date is not specified as the decision applies to the entire pendency of the claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition, ear disability, and tinnitus have been reopened. The claim for service connection for a low back disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims to establish service connection for disabilities of the neck and left knee have been reopened. The issues are remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA examination reports and determining the nature, dates of onset, and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of the right hip was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability, and no link to service.,Service connection was also denied for left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, low back condition, left knee condition, and right knee condition due to lack of in-service injury or disease.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disorder, cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and right knee disorder due to new evidence submitted within a year of the May 2014 rating decision. The remaining issues—service connection for upper respiratory tract disorder (sinusitis and allergic rhinitis) and obstructive sleep apnea—are remanded as additional development is needed regarding missing service treatment records.

The Veteran was granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the (l) level based on need for regular aid and attendance of another person due to service-connected disabilities from April 19, 2007, to March 19, 2012.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for back, bilateral hip, and right knee disabilities as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability due to inadequate opinions in previous examinations.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected, and the back disability and radiculopathy claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and diabetes mellitus, type II. The Board found that there is no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service, and that any relationship to service-connected disabilities is not supported by the medical evidence.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder has not met the criteria for a higher disability evaluation, as it does not result in forward flexion ending at 30 degrees or less, combined range of motion not greater than 120 degrees, muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait or spinal contour, and unfavorable ankylosis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical records and authorize VA to obtain them, or seek authorization from SSA for any relevant information.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for a left shoulder disability due to the Veteran's withdrawal. The low back disability issue is remanded for further development.