Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that additional development is required before the claims on appeal can be decided. The Veteran's lower back disability, which is not under appeal, creates intertwined issues that must be resolved prior to deciding the appealed issues.

The Veteran's hypertension, cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as their associated radiculopathy, are remanded due to the need for updated medical records and a new VA examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck disability, bilateral knee disability, and lower back disability. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension and prostate condition.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for low back pain, right knee degenerative joint disease, left knee disability, and right ankle injury residuals due to new and material evidence. The issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased rating, hypertension service connection, back disorder service connection, and deviated nasal septum service connection are not ready for appellate review due to a lack of a Statement of the Case. The case is therefore REMANDED.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spondylosis, degenerative disc space narrowing, and lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome is rated at 40 percent prior to September 9, 2015. The Board has remanded the claims for increased disability ratings and earlier effective dates.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of consideration of her medical records and potential Gulf War Service-related conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including coronary artery disease, irritable colon syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis of the left hand, and amputation of the distal tip of the left thumb have been denied. Additionally, his claims for increased ratings for thoracolumbar strain, left hip trochanteric pain syndrome and iliopsoas tendonitis, right hip trochanteric pain syndrome and iliopsoas tendonitis, cervical spine disability, headache disability, and obstructive sleep apnea have also been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus meeting the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment, and the TDIU claim is granted. The left elbow disability issue remains pending due to a lack of VA examination.

The Veteran's right knee disability, left shoulder disability, back disability, and bilateral foot disability are all remanded for further review. Additionally, the Veteran's PTSD rating is also remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease, left knee total replacement with degenerative joint disease, right knee degenerative joint disease, left hip degenerative joint disease, and right hip degenerative joint disease are all granted service connection. The Veteran’s right shoulder degenerative joint disease is also granted service connection.,Left knee muscle damage, nerve damage, and scar issues as well as a bilateral foot disability remain unresolved and require further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left elbow, lumbar spine, and knee disabilities. The TDIU claim was also denied prior to December 30, 2015.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's disabilities, particularly those related to service connection. The claims for tinnitus and bilateral foot disability have been granted, but further examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's thoracic and/or lumbar spine disability is remanded due to incomplete service records. A VA examination will be scheduled to determine the nature and etiology of his condition.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's current low back disability, including L5 spondylolysis, may have pre-existed his active service and did not increase in severity beyond natural progression during service. The case is being remanded for further examination to determine if a new opinion can be provided regarding whether the condition clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus, finding that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's current back condition is due to his military service.

The Board dismissed all appeals related to the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, as well as his request to reopen a previously denied claim. The cause of death was listed as frontal lobe degeneration and Parkinson-like progressive motor degeneration.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for her service-connected lumbosacral strain is being remanded due to the need for a more contemporaneous examination and consideration of additional evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board is remanding them to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.