Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has granted the reopening of the claim for service connection for lumbar spine disability. The claims for left ankle, left knee, recurrent chest pain, bilateral shoulder, neck, and bilateral hip disabilities are denied as there is no evidence showing a current disability or that any such disabilities are related to service. Service connection for allergic rhinitis, sinus bradycardia, stomach disability, facial cellulitis, scalp dermatitis, headache, and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy is also denied.

The Veteran's lumbar disc disease is granted service connection. The dizziness condition (Meniere's disease) and TDIU claim are remanded for further development.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and denied it on the merits. The Veteran's psychiatric disorder is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its etiology.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations related to the Veteran's lumbar spine condition and obstructive sleep apnea are inadequate, and thus remanded for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability and remanded the issue of an extraschedular rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for back and neck disabilities due to insufficient opinions from previous VA examiners. The Veteran's contentions regarding continuous symptoms since service need to be addressed in a new opinion.

The Veteran's increased ratings for lumbar disc disease, right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and erectile dysfunction have been denied.,A TDIU has been granted.

The Board has decided that there is not enough evidence to grant service connection for the Veteran's cervical spine disability, and therefore remanded the case for further development.

The Board has dismissed all issues related to service connection and TDIU due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus is denied.,The claim to reopen the service connection for spina bifida and lumbarization of S1 remains pending. The issues of whether service connection is warranted for sleep issues, collagenous colitis or an acquired psychiatric disorder are also pending.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine disability, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance remain pending. The earlier effective date claim is also pending.,The Veteran's tinnitus rating remains at 10 percent, as there is no legal basis to assign a higher rating. An effective date prior to March 29, 2017, for the award of service connection for tinnitus is denied.,,

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip joint disability and lower back condition have been granted. The Board found that the conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a stomach disability (formerly claimed as gastritis), to include as due to exposure to contaminated water while stationed at Camp Lejeune, is dismissed. The Board also remanded several other issues including an evaluation for the Veteran's low back disability and severance of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of cervical disabilities, including as secondary to his lumbar spine disability, and for cervical neuropathy of the upper extremities are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease with lumbar strain and spondylosis, finding that a rating in excess of 40 percent was not warranted during any part of the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and further examination.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as a lumbar spine disability, have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the appeals.,Prior to May 29, 2013, the Veteran’s lumbar spine disability was rated at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his current conditions and his military service. The issues of service connection for a lumbar spine disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, are being reviewed again.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and TDIU are being remanded due to incomplete records and potential interrelated issues.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for tinnitus has been withdrawn.,His claims for hypertension, recurrent lipomas, and elevated blood sugar have been reopened due to new evidence. His claim for service connection for hypertension is granted, as it is presumed related to his Vietnam service exposure.,His claim for service connection for recurrent lipomas is also granted, based on the presumption of herbicide exposure in Vietnam.,The Veteran's kidney cancer has been granted service connection, presumptively due to contaminated water exposure at Camp Lejeune during his military service.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder remains under review as a remand for an addendum VA examination is required.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, updated medical records, and opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.