Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, bilateral arm pain (claimed as cysts), low back pain, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and her military service.

The Veteran's pilonidal cyst claim was dismissed due to withdrawal. His low back scar claim was denied as secondary to a service-connected condition. A rating of 30 percent for laceration and surgical correction of the left foot from January 31, 2014 is granted.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability evaluation for lumbosacral strain/degenerative arthritis of the spine/disc displacement is being remanded due to new evidence added since the last decision in July 2016. The VA Back (Thoracolumbar Spine) Conditions Examination conducted in March 2019 must be reviewed by the AOJ.

The Veteran's disability rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with chronic myositis was restored to 50 percent effective May 1, 2015. The claim for a higher rating remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, upper back disability, and right shoulder disability have been remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating determinations due to inadequate or incomplete examinations, as well as additional evidence needed. The claims will be further evaluated after obtaining a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151, service connection for a back disability, PTSD or an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, and TDIU are all remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to make a determination on these claims due to their complexity and the need for further medical examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of radiculopathy or sciatica impacting his left leg, and therefore, cannot establish service connection for left leg numbness. The low back strain is currently evaluated as 20 percent disabling.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and active service.,No effective dates are granted as all claims predate May 3, 2016.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate examinations and for obtaining updated medical records. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities include lumbar spine, left hip, left knee, right knee, left ankle, right ankle, and tinea pedis.

The Veteran's mood disorder is granted a 50% rating effective March 1, 2010 to July 17, 2016. The Veteran’s complex regional pain syndrome and lumbar spine disability are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to obtain outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as medical opinions regarding the onset and relationship of her claimed disabilities to service.

The Board has denied service connection for a right wrist disability, granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, and denied service connection for a right ankle disability and LLE radiculopathy. The case is remanded to obtain an opinion on the etiology of RLE radiculopathy.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations for the Veteran's low back disability are inadequate and remands the case to schedule a new examination.

The Veteran's PTSD claim is rated at 50 percent, hypertension at a non-compensable rating, low back disability and left knee disability are both remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for epidermal cysts on the back, tumor of the lumbosacral spine region, low back disorder including degenerative disc disease, and kidney disease due to Agent Orange exposure. Additional medical opinions are needed regarding these conditions.

The claims for service connection for lumbar radiculopathy into the right and left legs, as secondary to service-connected low back disability are granted.,The claims for service connection for a right hip disability and a left hip strain, both as secondary to service-connected low back disability, are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his back disability and for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The reasons include the need for new examinations to assess the severity of the back disability, as well as retrospective medical opinions on its impact during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection, including prostate cancer with erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, left and right knee disorders, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), lumbar spine disorder, and bilateral hearing loss. The effective dates for the grants of service connection are not addressed in this decision.