Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to incomplete records and a lack of response from the Veteran's representative.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the award of total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied. The effective date will be fixed in accordance with the facts found, but shall not be earlier than June 12, 2015.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, right shoulder, bilateral hip arthritis, and dermatitis conditions due to inadequate etiological opinions in the current file. The VA is directed to seek Social Security Administration (SSA) records and obtain new medical opinions regarding the onset and progression of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hip, right knee, and right ankle disorders have been dismissed. The claims to reopen his back and left knee disorders are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for a left knee disability was dismissed. Service connection for a low back disorder is granted, but the issue of service connection for a left ankle disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected essential tremor of the hands, lumbar spine disability, and left knee disability preclude him from maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy, increased ratings for bilateral knee chondromalacia, and an increased rating for lumbosacral degenerative disc disease. The evidence did not support higher or separate ratings for any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete service personnel records and the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings for various disabilities, including right and left ankle disabilities, cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities, shoulder and knee conditions, and bilateral plantar fasciotomies. The appeals are being remanded due to outstanding private treatment records and a need for updated VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection and increased rating as they are not fully-informed due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran needs new VA examinations for his low back, left hip, left knee, left foot disorders, and gastrointestinal disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a relationship between his service-connected residuals of cerebral concussion and his current lumbosacral spine disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were denied. The case was also remanded to obtain VA treatment records, issue an SOC on the issues of SMC and earlier effective date, and schedule a hearing loss examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee, back, and right hip disabilities due to insufficient evidence in his file.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease, left knee osteoarthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis as there was no evidence of a nexus between the disabilities and service.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records.

The Veteran's kidney condition and back condition are not service-connected. The kidney condition claim is denied, while the back condition claim is remanded for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, finding that it is not secondary to her service-connected low back disability and there is no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within the applicable presumptive period.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a left knee disability due to new and material evidence submitted since the September 2008 rating decision.,Service connection for a low back disability is denied as there is no credible evidence linking current back issues to ADT.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the Veteran's neck and low back disabilities, as well as separate ratings for his upper extremity radiculopathy. The effective date is not specified.