Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded both issues due to inconsistencies in the examination reports and ongoing arguments from the Veteran regarding her symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial rating for head scars prior to October 5, 2017 and higher than 10 percent thereafter is denied.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various conditions are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to unresolved medical questions and additional development is needed, including a retrospective opinion regarding the Veteran's increased rating claim for his service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's costochondritis claim was denied, and the back and hand issues were remanded for further development. The decision on initial compensable evaluation for costochondritis is not granted.

The Board has found that there is insufficient information to decide the current appeal and requires additional examinations for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain and cervical spine DDD.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate examination and incomplete STRs. The Veteran's STRs from his time in Germany need to be obtained, and an addendum opinion is required.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral foot disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions are related to military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including knee, hip, lumbar spine, ankle, and foot disabilities. The claims are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of low back strain is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted with an effective date of July 1, 2009.

The Board found that the December 2013 rating decision denying service connection for a lumbar back disability, right knee disability, left hand disability, and right hand disability was not CUE. The claims are being remanded due to new evidence received since the last final decision.

The Board found that the December 2013 rating decision denying service connection for a lumbar back disability, right knee disability, left hand disability, and right hand disability was not CUE. The claims are being remanded due to new evidence received since the last final decision.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including direct service connection, presumptive service connection, and secondary aggravation.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for a back disability, neuropathy of the left leg, and sleep apnea due to lack of an adequate medical opinion regarding their etiology.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including direct service connection, presumptive service connection, and secondary aggravation.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed low back, neck, right shoulder, left leg radiculopathy, and right leg radiculopathy disabilities. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for depression and anxiety, as well as service connection for low back and hip disorders secondary to his service-connected bilateral foot and knee disabilities have been remanded due to the Veteran's failure to cooperate with scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current findings of residuals of blood poisoning and denied service connection for this condition. The claims for lupus, heart disorder, and low back disorder are remanded due to insufficient development.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was denied. The effective date for the combined 70 percent rating was also denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected due to noise exposure during service.,A higher rating of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is granted.