Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an addendum to the VA examinations. The Veteran's left eye disability is being reviewed due to a lack of private treatment records, while his lumbosacral disability remains on appeal as secondary to his left leg disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and low back disability due to a lack of service treatment records. The Veteran is requested to provide copies of his service separation examination and any other relevant medical evidence. A VA audiology and low back disability examination are also required.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition and gastrointestinal disorder, to include irritable bowel syndrome, were denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions during the appeal period.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome of the thoracolumbar spine, left shoulder degenerative joint disease, and bilateral foot disorder are all granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's sleep apnea is remanded for further review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and effective date are remanded due to procedural issues. The initial rating claim for hypertension is denied, as a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record. Separate ratings for seborrheic dermatitis and pseudofolliculitis barbae are requested but not granted.

The Veteran's disability rating for his lumbar spine condition was restored to 40 percent effective November 13, 2014. The claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease L5-S1 with non-radiating lower back pain and right knee patellar chondromalacia have worsened, necessitating a new examination to assess their current severity. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is also remanded due to the interrelated nature with the other issues.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for various shoulder and hand conditions, as well as a low back disorder due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is being remanded for further examination and updated treatment records due to a possible material change in condition.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for back and right knee disabilities due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding chronicity of these conditions during service. The case will be returned for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for an addendum opinion from a physician.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for partial paralysis of the ulnar nerve with mild flexion contracture of the right fifth finger was dismissed. The Board also remanded cases regarding service connection for a low back disorder, compensable ratings for eczema and acne.

The Board denied reopening of the claim for service connection for chronic lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes and denied entitlement to service connection for bilateral hip pain, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of vision impairment, bilateral hand condition, right knee disability, left knee disability, lower back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and heart disability have been dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for TDIU, but his claim is referred to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration of an extraschedular rating.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for pes planus was withdrawn. The claims for PTSD, back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, hypertension, sleep apnea, and erectile dysfunction were all denied due to lack of credible evidence supporting the claimed conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbar spine disability due to insufficient examination findings, particularly regarding flare-ups and their impact on range of motion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of low back and right shoulder disabilities have been reopened, but the cases are still pending as they need further examination to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has dismissed the appellant's appeals for service connection and increased rating claims related to gout, lumbar spine disability, obstructive sleep apnea, GERD, anxiety disorder (claimed as PTSD), and hypertension. The claim for service connection of PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and tinnitus are found to be related to service, while his bilateral hearing loss is not. Service connection is granted for both the lumbosacral strain and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded two issues: service connection for a back disability and the rating of the Veteran's right foot plantar fibromatosis. The Veteran contends that his back pain started during service and is related to his service-connected right foot condition.