Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for a new VA examination. The examiner must consider the Veteran's statements regarding his in-service injury, as well as lay statements from his spouse and friend.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder as the evidence did not establish that these conditions were caused by or related to active duty service.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for his service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome with lumbar degenerative arthritis is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition and address any bladder complaints related to it.

The Board has denied service connection for heart disability, headache disability, sleep disability, acquired psychiatric disability, lumbar spine disability, bilateral foot disability, and bilateral hearing loss as there is no probative evidence of current disabilities. The claims are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disorder and bilateral ankle disorders, but denied service connection for right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, left knee, right knee, and back disabilities have been reopened.,Service connection has been granted for the Veteran's thoracolumbar back disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to new evidence received after the June 2014 SOC.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 20 percent for lumbar spondylosis disability is granted. The appeal is remanded for further development regarding service connection claims.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for osteoarthritis of the lumbosacral spine and peripheral neuropathy in both lower extremities were denied. The Veteran was granted a 20% rating for his lumbosacral spine condition prior to September 20, 2012, but not after that date. His claims for higher ratings for his bilateral lower extremity neuropathies were also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a cervical spine or lumbar spine disability that is etiologically related to service, and therefore denied both claims for service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but has remanded his claims for a back disability and diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and evaluations to determine the nature and etiology of his back disorder, left knee condition, and hamstring tendonitis. The current ratings assigned for PTSD, left knee, and hamstring tendonitis are not supported by the evidence.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic headaches/migraines, Barrette's esophagus, diverticulitis, and internal hemorrhoids/polyps have been denied. However, his claim for service connection for lower extremity radiculopathy associated with L5-S1 low back disability has been reopened but remains pending due to the need for further review.

The Board has remanded multiple claims for service connection and evaluations, including those related to the Veteran's left shoulder, low back, right shoulder, cervical spine, left leg, right leg, bilateral eye, sleep-related symptoms, prostate, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, migraine headaches, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and acquired psychiatric disabilities. The remand also includes a request for additional medical records from SSA and VA.

The claim for an increased rating for service-connected lumbar strain with canal stenosis, spondylosis and facet joint disease is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the severity of the disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, back disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability have been granted. The appeals were reopened due to new evidence submitted since the final denial of these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating determinations due to insufficient evidence or need for further examination. Specifically, a VA examination is needed to determine if his lower back disability is related to his service-connected left ankle disability or peripheral neuropathy, as well as whether his left ankle disability warrants an increased rating.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's low back disability. The Veteran is seeking service connection and a previous effective date for PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including low back pain, eye condition, kidney problems, left shoulder strain, right shoulder strain, right hand pain, and left heel pain. The decision also remanded cases involving bilateral hearing loss, trichomoniasis, scar of the right index finger, stress fracture of the left lower extremity, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, degenerative joint disease of the left knee, and residuals of a stress fracture of the left tibia.