Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from finding and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded several claims for service connection due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, valvular heart disease, cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as upper extremity radiculopathies are being remanded due to the need for new examinations. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease L4-L5, with spinal stenosis as it did not have its onset in service and is not related to the Veteran's service-connected post-operative pilonidal cyst. The other claims were also denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an addendum opinion to reconcile conflicting medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder is at least as likely as not related to her service, and thus grants her claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded several claims, including the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae and his service connection claims for low back disability, sleep apnea disability, and bilateral foot fungus disability. The AOJ must schedule new VA examinations to address these issues.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to concerns about the sufficiency of the VA examinations and the need to consider new lay evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and additional development is needed.

The Veteran's combined disability rating from July 11, 2012, through August 8, 2017, was accurately assigned as 80 percent due to the service-connected conditions. The appeal for a higher rating is denied.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disability, but has remanded it for further development due to incomplete VA records and need for a VA examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability due to new and material evidence, but denied the claim as there is no probative evidence linking any current low back disabilities to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder and his active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder and low back conditions due to incomplete medical records and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for right elbow and left shoulder conditions, as well as his service connection claims for cervical spine, low back, and right lower extremity radiculopathy/peroneal neuropathy are all remanded due to insufficient examination reports.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether lumbosacral strain is secondary to service-connected right-fibula closed fracture and/or pes planus. The Veteran's representative raised the issue of possible secondary causation from these conditions, necessitating a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if service connection can be granted for a low back disability, shoulder disability, or hypertension.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for an enlarged prostate and a low back condition. However, these claims are being remanded as further development is needed before a decision can be made.

The Veteran's lumbar strain claim is being remanded for a current examination to assess the severity of his condition and determine if it warrants an increased rating.