Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has denied service connection for cervicalgia, bilateral ankle disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and cervical spine disorder as there is no evidence of current disabilities during the appeal period.

The Board has decided to remand the low back disability claim due to a duty-to-assist error and requires an additional VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for left eye loss of sight, left lower extremity pain, right lower extremity pain, low back pain, bilateral thigh scars, and gout as there is no evidence of current disabilities or in-service incurrences.,Service connection was remanded for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), right foot pain, hypertension due to herbicide agent exposure, tumor on face, chronic sinusitis secondary to tumor on face, and loss of teeth secondary to tumor on face.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to comply with a previous remand directive, and the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder is now pending.

The Veteran's right knee brace caused damage and wear to his clothing, leading the Board to grant a clothing allowance for 2017.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for lumbar thoracic spine scoliosis is granted. The Board finds that additional clarification is necessary regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's joint hypermobility disorder, to include Ehlers-Danos syndrome.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 20, 2011 for the award of service connection for degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine status post spinal fusion (low back disorder) was denied.,The Veteran's appeal challenging the March 2012 rating decision that granted entitlement to service connection for a low back disorder and assigned an effective date of December 20, 2011 due to CUE was also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, including pinched nerves, due to incomplete information in the medical records and the need for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a left knee disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle and foot disabilities. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and examination. The Veteran's claims for service connection are not granted.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability, claimed as residuals of neck fracture, finding no nexus to active duty.,Service connection was also denied for the low back disability due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Board has determined that the VA examination and opinion are inadequate, as they did not address aggravation of the upper back disability by service-connected disabilities. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's clothing allowance for the calendar year 2017 for a back brace is granted due to wear and tear on his clothes caused by using a back brace.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claims for left knee, right knee, low back, and right shoulder disabilities due to new evidence submitted. However, these claims are still remanded as the Veteran failed to attend VA examinations scheduled in June 2016.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's degenerative disease of the lumbar spine, specifically his in-service back complaints and treatment.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluation of migraine headaches is granted. The claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but dismissed the claims for bilateral hearing loss, prostate cancer, low back disability, skin disability, left ear abnormal growth, heart disability, and stroke.

The Board has remanded nine issues related to the Veteran's right knee, left knee, and low back disorders. The issues include rating increases for these conditions as well as a TDIU determination.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for an increased evaluation for his lumbar spine condition and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to his request to withdraw all of his appeals.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease and that any current disabilities did not manifest within one year of discharge.