Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The claim of entitlement to service connection for low back condition is being remanded due to the need for a medical opinion. The Veteran's current diagnosis and in-service injury are considered.

The Veteran's low back disability is restored to a 40 percent rating effective July 1, 2015. A higher rating for the condition remains denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a back disorder, headaches, tinnitus (secondary to headaches), and left leg disorder (secondary to back disorder) are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including right knee disability, skin disability, low back disability with sciatica, acquired psychiatric disability (bipolar disorder), and left wrist disability. The decision found that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The appeal for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed. The appeals for back condition, right knee condition, and left knee condition have been remanded.

The Board dismissed all issues of appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal prior to a decision being made.

The Board denied initial increased disability ratings for the Veteran's low back disability and lumbar radiculopathy of both lower extremities, finding that the evidence did not support higher schedular ratings based on the severity of his conditions.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral tinnitus was granted, and his left thigh muscle tear rating was restored to 10%. The service connection for spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine and increased rating for left thigh muscle tear were both remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his disabilities due to insufficient reasons and basis in the previous decisions, including failing to address the competency of VA examiners and the Veteran's medical training. The issues are now being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to December 30, 2013, for increased disability ratings of various service-connected conditions have been denied. The Board found no evidence that the Veteran initiated his claims before this date.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for back and neck conditions, as well as his claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The decision does not specify any new evidence or changes in existing evidence.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with bilateral sacroiliac joint sprain and dysfunction is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current psychiatric disability, to include posttraumatic stress disorder. The claims for service connection for lumbar spine disability and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded due to outstanding medical records and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's applications to reopen claims for neck, back, bilateral knee, and bilateral ankle disorders were denied as new and material evidence was not provided.,No service connection granted or assigned a rating.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various joint disabilities, including back disability, right knee, left knee, and hip disabilities. The remand requires additional examinations to address whether these conditions are caused or aggravated by military service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine and lumbosacral radiculopathy disabilities are rated at 40 percent for the period prior to October 8, 2014, and 20 percent thereafter. The TDIU claim is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's lower back disability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for lumbar strain and right ankle sprain, as well as her claim for TDIU, have been dismissed due to her withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine strain and bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate VA examination opinions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which he contends are related to his military service.

The Board has decided that the claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and an examination.