Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 40 percent, but not higher, for the entire period on appeal.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for psychiatric disability, PTSD, sleep disturbance, headaches and high blood pressure due to the Veteran's service.

The Veteran's service-connected low back condition has rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his functional limitations.

The Board has remanded three issues related to service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as a disability manifested by numbness of the hands. The Veteran's claims are being returned for further development including new examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for Parkinson’s disease, dementia, a psychiatric disorder other than dementia (including PTSD and depression), and a back disorder due to potential exposure to herbicides sprayed under living quarters in Thailand. The Veteran's service connection claim will be reconsidered with an additional medical opinion.

The Board has granted the Veteran's applications to reopen his claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension, both secondary to PTSD. The other claims have been denied as new and material evidence was not provided.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone have not rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, thus the claim for a TDIU is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, obstructive sleep apnea, and neck disability need further examination and clarification. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the onset of these conditions during service or their relationship to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back condition and a headache disability, including as secondary to service-connected hypertension. The decision is based on the need for additional medical records and an examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to conflicting medical evidence regarding the Veteran's back disability. The decision on service connection remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection has been dismissed as he withdrew his claims. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disorders is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding a lower back disorder, including potential service connection for an injury during active duty. The Veteran needs to provide records from any hospital he visited after his reported motor vehicle accident and should be scheduled for a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the merits of lumbar spine disorder, skin cancer, and vision disorder have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability was denied. Separate ratings for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities were upheld.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's TBI, upper back disability, and carpal tunnel syndrome are all being reviewed again.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain and increased evaluations for supraventricular arrhythmias, as well as her request for an earlier effective date for service connection.,Specifically, the Board found that there was no evidence of a current back condition related to active duty service or any in-service injury. The Veteran's claimed right leg sciatica radiculopathy was also denied.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine disability, right ankle disability, and erectile dysfunction secondary to PTSD. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's low back disability and his service-connected knee disabilities. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to determine if his current low back condition is related to service or developed from strenuous activities during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment prior to August 4, 2014.