Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, which is claimed as secondary to his service-connected right or left knee disability. The case will be returned for another examination and opinion.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, thrombocytopenia, headache disability (secondary to cervical radiculopathy), and cervical radiculopathy of the right upper extremity are all granted as service connected.,Service connection is established for these conditions based on their direct relationship to service.

The appeal to reopen claims for shoulder, neck and back disorders as well as psoriasis and rosacea is granted. The appeals for right and left shoulder, cervical spine (neck), lumbar spine, and skin disorders are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected left shoulder disability and lumbosacral strain with lumbar degenerative joint disease. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU is also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD, low back disability, diabetic neuropathy, retinopathy, and bilateral hearing loss, necessitate the need for regular aid and attendance of another person. The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran requires such assistance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left hand condition, respiratory condition, and back condition are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran’s claim for an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety disorder) is also being remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a lower back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable as of January 26, 2001, and the Board granted a total disability rating for compensation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective from that date.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and opinion due to inaccuracies in the previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for right shoulder disorder, low back disability, and sinusitis have been granted. Other issues are being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his claims for increased rating and service connection were not supported by the evidence of record. His neck disability is rated at 20 percent, but he did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The low back and left shoulder disabilities are also not service connected.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for his hernia condition, right wrist sprain, and DDD with low back strain have been denied. The Board found no current disability related to the hernia surgery or testicular pain, and did not find ankylosis in the DDD with low back strain case.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability warrants a rating of 40 percent, but no higher, effective March 3, 2017. The cervical spine disability has not warranted an increased rating at any time during the appeal period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, eczema, and pseudofolliculitis barbae. The decision found that new evidence did not relate to or support a relationship between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for DJD of the lumbar spine is granted. The issue of service connection for sinusitis is remanded.

The Board has granted the reopening of the claim for service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability and remanded the issues of service connection for pes planus and a rating in excess of 50 percent for status post hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy surgery with a residual scar, mass, and pelvic pain.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded for additional examinations to assess the severity of his conditions, as well as any additional disabilities associated with these service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disability and a lumbar spine disability, but denied service connection for left shoulder and right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, and left extremity radiculopathy conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck condition, back condition, and bilateral leg condition. The evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions began during service or were related to an in-service injury or disease.,Service connection was also denied on a secondary basis as none of the claimed disabilities are currently service-connected.