Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a new VA examination to address the Veteran's back condition, including whether his scoliosis is a congenital defect or disease and if there was aggravation during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to procedural defects and the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disorder.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of degenerative joint disease, cervical spine, degenerative joint disease, lumbar spine, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with underlying emphysema due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the appellant's service-connected disabilities alone cause him to be housebound or in need of aid and attendance from another person.

The claim for service connection of low back disorder and bilateral pes planus is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's claims are related to the cumulative effects of his in-service duties, including continuous back pain since service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection of left knee condition, lumbar back condition, and hip condition. The case is remanded to obtain VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to his service-connected right knee condition.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 20 percent, effective November 22, 2016. The lower back disability was granted service connection in February 2017 with a 20 percent rating and an effective date of November 22, 2016.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and need for further development, including verification of service periods and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and lower extremity radiculopathy were rated, with the right and left lower extremities receiving separate ratings. The Veteran received a 60% rating for both conditions since October 30, 2018.

The Veteran's combined disability rating of 90 percent from June 18, 2015 is denied. The Board finds the Regional Office properly calculated the Veteran’s combined rating, which is now 80 percent effective June 18, 2015.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, and headache disability due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's TBI is also being evaluated further.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating of his service-connected lumbosacral strain with posttraumatic arthritis was granted, effective from July 26, 2007 to October 4, 2012. The rating is set at 40 percent.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease is granted service connection. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied, but the Veteran is granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating determinations due to additional relevant VA treatment records being added to her claims file.

The Veteran's service connection claims for back disorder, bilateral hand disorder, neck disorder, and right knee disorder have been reopened. Service connection has been granted for the bilateral hand disorder and neck disorder, but denied for the back disorder and right knee disorder.,Service connection was granted on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has decided that a new VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed back disorders, including degenerative disc disease, lumbar fusion, and spondylosis.

The Veteran's lower back disability, diagnosed as lumbar spondylosis and L4-L5 discogenic disease, was found to have been aggravated by service. The other issues were remanded for further review.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a back disability is denied as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during service or within one year after separation, and the earliest medical evidence of treatment is many years post-service.