Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including left shoulder pain, right shoulder pain, low back pain, left foot pain, chronic sinusitis, hallux rigidus (bilateral), head injury, and acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD. The decision was based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded three issues related to the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as his sciatica. The claims are being referred back for further development.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a lumbar spine disability has been dismissed because the grant of service connection for the lumbar spine DDD renders the 1151 claim moot.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and bilateral hearing loss were not incurred in service, but granted service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection claims for low back and neck conditions, specifically due to a lack of verification of his active duty or inactive duty training dates. The Veteran is required to provide this information, and if verified, he will be scheduled for an examination by a clinician to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed neck conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that there was no evidence linking her current condition to her military service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for right foot disability, bilateral hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability and a bilateral knee disability are remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for low back, left hip, right hip, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen service connection for depression/dysthymia was granted.,The Veteran's appeals to reopen service connection for a nervous disorder, chronic bilateral dislocation of the sternoclavicular joints, lumbosacral strain, right foot pes planus, and left foot pes planus were all denied.

The claim for service connection for a low back disability is granted, but the Veteran must undergo a new VA examination to determine if her reported pain qualifies as a disability and whether it is related to service.

The Veteran's service records do not show any diagnosed lumbar back injury or peripheral neuropathy in the upper extremities. The Board finds that his current conditions are not related to military service.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis of left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy due to Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for right shoulder tendonitis and impingement syndrome was dismissed. A TDIU rating is granted, but the issues regarding lumbosacral and thoracic strain and right lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations of the Veteran's conditions, including his right thumb disorder, left thumb condition, lumbar strain, and neck strain with arthritis.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disability and granted it, finding that her current condition is due to aggravation by her service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and the need for additional development. The Veteran's right knee condition, back condition, left knee condition, and right shoulder condition are all under review.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including a lumbar spine/low back disability and respiratory issues (including asbestosis), right shoulder and left shoulder disabilities, headaches, diabetes mellitus type II, hemorrhoids, and sleep apnea are being remanded due to the receipt of new and material evidence. The Veteran's claims will be further evaluated with additional medical examinations.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis, arthritis of the cervical spine, and arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine as there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including low back disability, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for further development. The initial compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae has been granted, but the criteria for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent from December 13, 2010 for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine have not been met.