Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his neck, back, left knee, right knee, and asthma disabilities due to inadequate notification regarding VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, finding that the Veteran's thoracic scoliosis was a congenital defect and not aggravated by service. The hearing loss claim is remanded.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection of left leg, right leg, and cervical spine disabilities. The claim for lumbar spine disability was granted based on new and material evidence received.,The Board denied service connection for left hip, right hip, left knee, and right knee disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's back condition is related to his military service, including a fall off a missile launcher while deployed in Kuwait.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims of service connection for low back, left foot, and right hip disabilities. The Veteran's assertions regarding these conditions are being reviewed, along with VA examination results.

The Board has remanded the claim for a low back disability, finding that an additional VA examination is necessary to address the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability and whether it is secondary to her service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are needed for the Veteran's service-connected chronic lumbar strain and PTSD, as well as a review of his TDIU claim. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for cervical degenerative disc disorder (DDD) is denied. A separate 20 percent rating for mild radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities associated with his cervical DDD is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in the VA examiner's opinion regarding whether the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is related to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's disabilities. The claims for service connection are not currently pending as the diabetes mellitus type 2 claim was denied in a final rating decision.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeals to reopen his claims of service connection for low back and right hip disabilities, but remanded these issues for further development.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and residuals of cold injury of the feet. The cases are now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The reduction in disability rating from 20% to 10% was found improper as the procedural requirements under 38 C.F.R. § 3.105(i) were not followed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee, shoulder, and spine disabilities due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is also being asked to provide VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a lower back condition, finding that the Veteran's current disability is at least as likely as not caused by an in-service motor vehicle accident.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back, left thigh, and bilateral ankle conditions due to inadequate examinations in August 2016. The cases are returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and left leg varicose vein disability were denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The right leg varicose vein disability was rated at 40%.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was granted, and a rating of 70 percent for major depressive disorder and social phobia (PTSD) was also granted. Claims for lumbar spine disability and cervical spine disability were denied, while fibromyalgia was denied.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his low back disability and TDIU prior to November 23, 2015 are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining updated VA treatment records, Social Security Administration (SSA) records, and a new VA examination.