Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for back condition and remanded for further development to determine the etiology of his lumbar spine, cervical spine, bilateral knee disabilities, and asthma.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for thoracolumbar spine pain, left shoulder partial tear distal supraspinatus tendon and tendinosis, and right shoulder degenerative changes and tendonitis due to conflicting opinions from VA examiners. The Veteran is required to provide a new opinion regarding the nature and etiology of her back disability and bilateral shoulder disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for a low back disability due to insufficient evidence and needs further examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further action due to issues with service connection and disability ratings for knee conditions, as well as a TDIU issue. The Veteran's back disability is being reviewed for pre-existing condition allegations, while his knee disabilities are being evaluated without assistive devices.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,Service connection for left hip condition and bilateral hearing loss disability are denied.,Service connection for headaches is granted. The Veteran has a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder characterized as depressive disorder.,PTSD service connection is reopened due to new evidence, but the claim remains denied.,Service connection for cervical spine disorder is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to lack of evidence linking his current condition to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate statement of reasons or bases in the January 2018 decision, which denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU. The case is now returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (RO) for further action consistent with the terms of the JMPR.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his degenerative arthritis of the spine was denied as his condition did not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left knee disability and increased rating for left knee disability prior to April 18, 2007 on an extraschedular basis. The Veteran's representative requested additional time to submit evidence but no further evidence was submitted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's chronic low back disability, including service treatment records and a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to missing VA examinations and failure to report. The issues include service connection for various conditions, including fibromyalgia, lumbar spine disorder, bilateral hip disorder, enlarged lymph node in the groin region, bilateral hand carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral foot disorder, and psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of a lumbar spine disability, including degenerative arthritis. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's low back condition is rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating due to limitations in range of motion and no evidence of ankylosis or IVDS.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as Level II impairment, which is noncompensable. The Board found no basis for a compensable rating based on the current evidence.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of various disabilities have been withdrawn. The claims for an increased rating for PTSD and entitlement to a TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating of PTSD was granted, and she is now receiving a 70% disability rating. The Board also found that the Veteran meets the criteria for TDIU based on her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability and service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to his lumbar spine disability. The case is being returned to the RO for further adjudication.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability is granted, but the issue is remanded due to additional development needed.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes but has remanded the issue of service connection for low back disability.

The Veteran's lumbar spine surgery did not necessitate convalescence after October 1, 2017 and he is denied an extension of the temporary total rating.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of low back disability, left knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss for further examination and opinion as there are insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.