Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of PTSD, as well as his claim for a higher initial rating for sleep apnea. The reasons are that no VA examiners have provided opinions on whether the Veteran's conditions are related to service or not, and because some treatment records need to be obtained.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral arm/shoulder disability, low back disability, left knee disability, bilateral ankle and foot disabilities, bilateral eye disability (claimed as myopia), left ear hearing loss, and PTSD. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current disability or a causal relationship to military service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for a low back disorder, left and right ankle disorders, as well as his right knee, left knee, and right inguinal hernia disabilities. The appeal for TDIU is also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for back, neck, and bilateral knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has decided to remand the issue of service connection for a back condition due to conflicting medical evidence about whether the Veteran's spine was sound when he enlisted. The matter is being sent back for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability is reopened, and the case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the nature of his current condition and its relationship to service or VA treatment.

The claims for service connection for a back disability, sinusitis, respiratory disability, and headache disability are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back and upper back conditions due to inconclusive objective medical evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back injuries, lower lumbar joint and disc degeneration, a cervical spine disability, bilateral cervical radiculopathy and paresthesias of the shoulders, arms and hands, neurogenic tics, extreme loss of weight, difficulty breathing, myositis, myopathy, ALS, and headaches. The claims are being remanded for further examination to determine if these conditions are related to exposure to herbicides or jet fuel and exhaust.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disability, finding that there was no evidence to support the contention that his current condition was incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for dementia has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal. The appeals for service connection for a skin disability, low back disability, sleep disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity are remanded.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased ratings for asthma, a left ankle disability, and a lumbar spine disability (to include bilateral radiculopathy). The claims for service connection for sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and an initial rating for bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability and denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for the lumbar spine disability. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a cervical spine disability is remanded.

The Veteran's back condition and PTSD have been granted service connection. Ratings of 10% for left knee instability and limitation of motion have also been granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a new VA examination and medical opinion regarding the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder, including whether it is related to service or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for right-forearm disorder is dismissed.,Service connection was denied for thoracolumbar spine disorder, right-knee disorder, right-hand disorder, left-hand disorder, and migraine headaches.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted. Service connection for left ankle dislocation and back disorder are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder is not related to his service and does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back disability on the basis of aggravation, finding that his pre-existing condition was aggravated by his military service.