Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's petition to reopen her claims for service connection for thoracolumbar and cervical spine disorders is granted. The appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, SSA disability benefits records, and chiropractic treatment records.

The petition to reopen claims for service connection for various disabilities is granted. The cases are remanded for further development and adjudication.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records from his Reserve service. The AOJ must obtain and associate any missing records, including those from Fort Polk, Louisiana, and Social Security Administration disability benefit records. They should also consider the Veteran's ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA service periods.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his lumbosacral spine disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating higher than 20 percent prior to June 1, 2010 and 40 percent thereafter.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back disability, specifically L5-S1 left foraminal stenosis status post degenerative disc disease lumbar spine. The case is being returned for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine in excess of 10 percent prior to January 5, 2015 has been dismissed due to the appellant withdrawing his claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for low back disability was denied in previous rating decisions. New evidence has been received, and the claim is reopened. The case is remanded to determine if a current low back disability is related to military service or aggravated by service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted the reopening of the Veteran's claims for service connection for Hepatitis C and ED, but denied service connection for DDD of the lumbar spine, COPD, seizures, MDD, and hypertension. The new evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 20 percent. The left knee, cardiac, and low back disabilities are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hearing loss has been withdrawn, and the issue is dismissed without prejudice. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for various disabilities are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for asthma, right ankle disorder, low back disorder, bilateral hip disorder, and bilateral knee disorder due to incomplete development of records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to her knee disabilities and a back disability. The Board has determined that these matters should be remanded for further development, including new VA examinations and medical opinions.

Service connection for undiagnosed joint pain, lumbar spine disorder, left inguinal hernia, and skin disorder is denied.,The Veteran's claims for PTSD, anxiety, and major depressive disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral foot disorder and remanded the issues of service connection for hearing loss and lumbar spine disorders. The claims are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated as noncompensable from September 3, 2012 through February 3, 2016 and in excess of 40 percent from February 4, 2016.,The Veteran's left heel plantar fasciitis was rated at 10 percent from September 3, 2012 through February 3, 2016 and in excess of 30 percent from February 4, 2016.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected major depressive disorder, lumbosacral strain and left hip strain. The cases of increased disability ratings for lumbosacral strain, residuals of a left hip strain, and major depressive disorder are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disorder, lumbar radiculopathy, and left foot numbness. The appeal was also remanded to determine if prostate cancer had onset in service due to pesticide exposure.

The Veteran's PTSD, low back condition, and headaches have been granted service connection. However, the case has been remanded for additional development regarding his headaches.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from engaging in substantially gainful employment, except for a brief period prior to August 3, 2013 when he was employed. The TDIU claim is granted from August 3, 2013 onwards.