Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to any event or injury during service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected conditions and his current right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's service connection claims for cardiomyopathy, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, colonic diverticulitis, hemorrhoids, rectum condition, and stomach condition are all denied as they are not related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.,The Veteran's service connection claims for sinus condition secondary to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune are remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was granted an initial 20 percent rating prior to August 23, 2017. The case is remanded for further examination and consideration of the Veteran's cervical spine strain.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative changes of the lumbosacral spine, cervical spine, left knee strain residuals, and right knee strain residuals. The evidence does not establish a chronic condition that manifested to a compensable degree in service or within a presumptive period, nor is continuity of symptomatology established.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to April 22, 2014 is being remanded due to its inextricability with his previously remanded increased rating claim for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis. The issues will be reconsidered together.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to higher ratings for PTSD and right clavicle fracture residuals, as well as service connection for various disabilities. The effective date of the TDIU award is still under review.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for her service-connected knee disabilities, bilateral pes planus and hallux valgus, a back disorder, hypertension, and sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations. The Veteran also has pending claims seeking service connection for these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current lower back disability is related to his service. The Veteran will need to provide more information about any treatment records he may have had after service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various disabilities have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.,The Veteran has withdrawn all issues except for entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability, right knee disability, back disability, neck disability, sleep disability, and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for back and neck disabilities due to a lack of medical opinion regarding whether pre-existing scoliosis was aggravated by service.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted as the Veteran's in-service noise exposure likely caused his current condition.,Service connection for a right hip disorder and a right knee disorder are denied as there is no evidence of their direct or secondary relationship to service-connected conditions.,Service connection for a lumbar spine disorder is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its relationship to service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for back and left knee conditions, as there is insufficient evidence in the post-service medical records to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board dismissed the propriety of reducing the disability rating for service-connected lumbar spine disorder from 40 percent to 20 percent, effective June 15, 2016. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a back condition and an other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to her active military service.

The Board has remanded the claims due to new evidence being added to the record after the SOC was issued. The Veteran and his representative did not waive AOJ review of this additional evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including thoracolumbar disc disease and cervical disc disease with right shoulder disability, have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the claim for a TDIU prior to May 23, 2017 should be referred to the Director of the Compensation Service for extra-schedular consideration due to lack of substantial gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical records and physical examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include low back, knee, foot, and sleep disorders.