Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeals for service connection have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding flare-ups of the Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability. A new VA examination is needed to address this issue.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his thoracolumbar spine strain is remanded due to incomplete development of records and the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is granted a 60% evaluation, and he is granted individual unemployability (TDIU). The rating for tinnitus remains at 10%. No new evidence was received to reopen other claims.

The Veteran's posttraumatic chronic cervical strain is granted a disability rating of 30 percent, effective from the date of claim. The Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic chronic lumbar strain and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are also granted with specific ratings.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left hip strain and lumbar strain, as well as his claim for TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development of medical records and examinations.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted from February 15, 2016 to August 21, 2019 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied an initial rating higher than 20 percent for the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability, finding that his motion is not sufficiently restricted to warrant a higher rating.

The Board has denied service connection for a back disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his active military service. The evidence does not show any pre-existing condition and there is no medical opinion linking the current disability to service.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 40 percent for degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for limitation of motion for right wrist has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus have been dismissed.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a back condition. The claim is granted to that extent only. However, the issue of whether the Veteran's current back condition is related to his active service or caused by or aggravated by his military service remains pending as it requires an addendum VA opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck/cervical spine disorder, lumbar spinal stenosis and spondylosis, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, persistent depressive disorder, and restless leg syndrome have all been denied. The Board has also remanded the issue of an initial disability rating higher than 20 percent for lumbar spinal stenosis and spondylosis.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral foot disability. The appeal as to all other issues is dismissed.

The Board has denied service connection for various disabilities, including right shoulder, back, knee, foot, and pes planus disabilities, finding that the evidence does not support a link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative joint disease/disc disease of the lumbar spine was granted, and he is also entitled to a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his low back disability due to incomplete examination findings and a need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is being remanded due to new evidence received since the last decision. The Board finds that this evidence raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine was reopened and granted effective February 25, 2014. The Board found that this award is not earlier than this date.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral knee disability, and low back disability. The evidence did not support the Veteran's claims that these conditions were related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete examination and lack of opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected foot disability may have aggravated his hip and back disabilities.