Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for a bladder disability including enuresis and a back disability including backache due to additional development being needed, specifically regarding whether the conditions pre-existed service or are directly linked to active duty.

The Board has granted the appellant's application to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for a low back disability and has also granted him service connection for this condition. The appeal regarding service connection for a ganglion cyst in the right wrist is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for back condition has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is now remanded for further development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, diabetes mellitus with diabetic retinopathy, left hip condition, left wrist condition, and ingrown toenails.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability and lumbar degenerative disc disease, finding that there was no causal relationship between his current condition and his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused his obesity, which in turn contributed to his cause of death. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on this matter.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss. The cases of bilateral knee disability and right ear hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disability, erectile dysfunction, and back disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been received, but further examination is needed to determine if his acquired psychiatric disorder, back disability, and sleep apnea are related to his time in service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, left hand polyarthritis, right hand polyarthritis, left foot rheumatoid arthritis (due to Agent Orange exposure), and right foot rheumatoid arthritis (due to Agent Orange exposure) have been denied. The Board found that the disorders are not related to service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine, IVDS, spinal stenosis, and scoliosis is rated at 20 percent prior to July 13, 2015, and at 40 percent since that date.,An initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for depressive disorder was granted from May 9, 2018 to September 10, 2018. A higher rating is denied as of September 10, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and TDIU have been remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations, treatment records review, and retrospective medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion.,The claim for reopening of the left eye disability was granted as new material evidence has been received.

The Board has withdrawn the appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the remaining issues of service connection for various conditions. The Veteran's claims for these conditions are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain and service connection for a bilateral knee condition are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and low back disorder are granted service connection, while the claim for a bilateral eye disorder is denied.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is granted with a disability rating of 40 percent effective December 19, 2017. A TDIU is also granted effective December 19, 2017.,Service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy is not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Board has also remanded the claims for service connection for low back condition, right knee pain, and left knee pain due to inadequate examination.

The Board denied service connection for low back disability and BLE nerve disorder (neuropathy) as the evidence did not show a chronic condition in service or within one year after service, nor was there any link to an injury or disease in service.

The Veteran's disability rating for IVDS with degenerative disc disease and arthritis of the lumbar spine was reduced from 40 percent to 20 percent, based on improvement in her range of motion. The Board found that this reduction was appropriate.