Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for seizure disorder and DJD of the lumbar spine, finding that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine, right hand, cervical spine, and left knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence establishing a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, including his 1984 motor vehicle accident.

The Board has remanded the claims for entitlement to service connection for various conditions, including right knee disability, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and psychiatric disorders. The appeals are currently pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and inadequate opinions. The Veteran is required to provide VA with any relevant medical records, including those from his in-service injury. He also needs to complete a VA Form 21-8940 regarding his employment status.

The Board has dismissed the appeals seeking increased ratings for nose fracture and headaches. The remaining issues of service connection for back, neck, and shoulder disabilities are remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims and rating determinations. The Veteran's right hand ganglion cyst claim is denied as there is no current diagnosis of a right hand ganglion cyst or disabling residuals thereof other than the service-connected scar from the ganglion cyst in service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to comply with its duty to assist, specifically in obtaining post-service employment records from the South Carolina Department of Corrections.

The Board has denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and remanded the issue of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder. The decision is not clear on whether service connection was granted or denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a neck disability, a back disability, and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that her pre-existing condition existed before service and was not aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating of her low back disability, as well as her cervical spine disability. The claims are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea and irritable bowel syndrome are granted. The Veteran is awarded a 30 percent disability rating for his service-connected IBS, effective from the date of the decision. Service connection for low back disorder and left lower extremity radiculopathy is remanded.

The Board dismissed all issues on appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeals.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for a low back disorder is granted. The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional evidence regarding the cause of his current low back disability.

The Veteran's low back disability was not incurred in or aggravated during service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.,The Veteran does not have a bilateral knee disability.,The Veteran’s current bilateral hearing loss is likely due to post-military factors such as occupational noise exposure or presbycusis. The examiner did not provide an opinion regarding the etiology of his tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased evaluations and TDIU due to inadequate examinations, and requests additional evidence or clarification from the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back condition, finding that the Veteran's statements and credible testimony regarding in-service trauma and continuity of symptomatology support this determination. The claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is also remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, right knee patellar tendonitis, and recurrent right ankle strain has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of her appeals.

The Board has granted service connection for a back condition, left ankle condition, and diabetes mellitus. The evidence supports the Veteran's claims that these conditions were incurred during his active duty service.