Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine and thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease due to inadequate VA examinations and insufficient evidence of a causal relationship between his current conditions and service.

The Board has granted service connection for a chronic back disability and remanded the issues of right foot condition, left shoulder condition, increased rating for plantar fasciitis, increased rating for panic disorder with agoraphobia (claimed as PTSD, anxiety), increased rating for TBI with residual headaches, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left hand numbness and tingling has been denied as there is no confirmed diagnosis of a current disability.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected fracture left ring finger disability has also been denied due to lack of evidence showing functional impairment beyond the noncompensable rating already assigned.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, and back condition (claimed as secondary to left knee osteoarthritis) have been granted.,Service connection was denied for left ankle osteoarthritis due to lack of a current diagnosis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar and cervical degenerative disc disease, as well as special monthly compensation benefits based on the need for aid and attendance or of being housebound, are remanded due to new evidence submitted at his hearing. The RO must review this additional evidence before making a decision.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity cold injury residuals have been granted a higher rating of 40 percent since July 11, 2013. Effective December 1, 2015, the Veteran has also received TDIU.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that his preexisting injury was aggravated by active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, bronchitis, and chronic headaches.,Service connection was not granted as the Veteran's current disabilities are not causally related to her active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding flare-ups and functional loss prior to May 16, 2016.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for lumbar spine disability and granted it, finding that new evidence submitted by the Veteran raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claim.

The Veteran's back brace, prescribed for his service-connected lumbar spine disability, has not caused wear and tear to his clothing. As a result, the Board denied a clothing allowance for the 2017 calendar year due to use of the back brace.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include back disorder, bilateral leg disorder, rectal bleeding, skin rash of the thighs, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), and TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine DDD is granted, with a rating of 30 percent. Service connection for left knee pain with instability and OSA are also granted.

The Board found that the reduction from a 40 percent rating to a 10 percent rating was improper and restored the prior 40 percent rating as of April 1, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected left knee degenerative joint disease and lumbar spine anterolisthesis, degenerative disc disease and thoracic spine compression fracture have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher evaluation based on current symptomatology.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for tinnitus has been dismissed as he did not file a timely Substantive Appeal.,Service connection is denied for the left elbow disability, lumbar spine (lower back) disability, and left hip disability due to lack of diagnosed conditions affecting earning capacity.,A compensable initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied based on current audiometric test results.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone are of sufficient severity to produce unemployability, and the Board has granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination and incomplete service treatment records. The Veteran's neck condition is being reviewed again for proper consideration.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and special monthly pension (SMP) based on the need for aid and attendance have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities due to insufficient evidence, including incomplete service treatment records. The Veteran is asked to provide additional information about his medical history and any relevant medical records.