Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection for osteopenia of lumbar spine with left femoral neck, chronic liver disease, and hepatitis C have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of various conditions due to the lack of an adequate substantive appeal.,A new and material evidence request for service connection of headaches was granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to an incomplete VA medical opinion and a need for further examination. The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including medications used to treat them, are being evaluated for their potential role in causing or aggravating his sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension, low back disability, and respiratory disability due to incomplete medical opinions and lack of evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain and right leg/hip condition are being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for updated medical opinions regarding their severity and etiology.

The Board has determined that another remand is necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his service-connected low back strain, TBI, and PTSD.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 10 percent, the minimum rating for arthritis. The Board found no evidence of additional functional loss or impairment due to pain and other symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition, specifically lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with stenosis, is being remanded due to the need for additional service treatment and personnel records. The Board finds that there are gaps in the current record regarding the Veteran’s claimed injury during military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a right hand disorder and low back disorder have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's conditions were not incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations. The issues include recurrent skin disabilities, foot disabilities, arthritis of the knees, tinnitus, carpal tunnel syndromes, gout, hypertension, vascular disabilities, pulmonary disability, prostate disability, hernia disability, and left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's back condition is rated at 20 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to limited forward flexion.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity has been rated at 20 percent, with no episodes requiring bedrest in the past year.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for prostate cancer, cervical and lumbar disc disease, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to his refusal of a VA examination and the need to obtain more recent medical records.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration. The Veteran's right knee disability, back disability, and OSA are all being reviewed again to determine if they are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for neck, right knee, and left knee disabilities were denied as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.,Service connection was granted for tinnitus but denied for left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, sciatica, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and psychiatric disability is granted as new and material evidence has been submitted. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the DIC and service connection claims due to lack of substantial compliance with prior remand orders. The DIC claim is remanded for an addendum opinion from an independent medical expert, while the accrued benefits service connection claim is placed back on the docket as a valid substitute.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for colon lymphoma, pancreatic disorder, and squamous cell carcinoma has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,Service connection is granted for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran had in-service noise exposure which led to current hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is service connected. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending and requires further development.