Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus began during service and is related to in-service noise exposure. Service connection for a low back disability was also granted due to new evidence received since the last denial.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including effective date determinations and evaluations for various disabilities. The Veteran is also being asked to provide new evidence in support of his TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and examination to determine if service connection is warranted for a left shoulder disability and a back disability, including as secondary to right knee tendonitis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating due to incomplete medical records, lack of a full rationale in the previous VA examination, and new arguments regarding his left ankle disorder. The issues include psychiatric disorders, lumbosacral spine disorders, left knee disorders, left ankle disorders, right knee disorders, and TDIU.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot disability, left foot disability, and thoracolumbar spine disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's dysthymic disorder and unspecified personality disorder are currently rated at 70 percent, right shoulder tendonitis at 10 percent, and cervical spondylosis with degenerative disc disease and spondylolisthesis at 20 percent. The case is remanded for further action on the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected degenerative changes of the lumbosacral spine with stenosis and right myelopathy, and major depressive disorder (MDD) are being remanded due to incomplete procedures. The claim for special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral ankle condition has been denied. The claims for PTSD, neck condition, back condition, and bilateral shoulder condition have been remanded.

The appeal for service connection for colon cancer is dismissed.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for PTSD, but the claim for a low back disability remains denied as new and material evidence was not received.,Service connection for a dental condition is denied due to lack of compensable disability.,The appeal for service connection for left knee disability is remanded.,The appeal for service connection for right knee disability is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient nexus opinions and a need for further examination. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is being reviewed, but there are no claims regarding service connection for rhabdomyolysis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder and pectoralis disability, low back disability, neck disability, and right ankle disability due to incomplete information about his Reserve service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, but no higher. The Veteran also receives SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity radiculopathies are granted as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The appeal for a higher than 40 percent rating for the lumbar spine disability is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral eye disability has been reopened and is granted.,Service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, chronic lumbar strain, and bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, left hip, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, degenerative arthritis of the left knee, and right knee strain. The conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for a left knee condition, back condition, heart condition and bilateral shoulder condition due to their inextricability with the Veteran's TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities due to a lack of an adequate medical opinion addressing the interrelationship between his service-connected left ankle and bilateral knee disorders and his spine disabilities.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection of a low back disability, bilateral pes planus, and TBI were granted. The right knee and paronychia issues are remanded.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for updated medical opinions regarding service connection for low back and left ankle disorders. The current opinions were based on inaccurate factual premises.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder has been granted, effective October 30, 2014. The claims of service connection for various conditions have also been reopened and are currently under consideration.