Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his lumbar strain with degenerative joint disease has been withdrawn and is dismissed as the Veteran's representative notified VA that he was satisfied with his current rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including cerebrovascular accident, left hip condition, right hip condition, lumbosacral spine condition, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, coronary artery disease (CAD), and hypertension. The decision also remanded several issues related to knee conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back condition began during service and has been recurrent since then, granting service connection for this disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete service treatment records and missing National Guard unit records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for left ankle, lumbar spine, and right knee disabilities, as well as a left knee disability secondary to a left ankle disability.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar strain disability is not adequately contemplated by the current 20 percent rating, and a new VA examination is needed to assess its severity.

The Board has remanded the claims for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's back disability, hand arthritis, and any other conditions. The claims are also remanded for obtaining missing service personnel records and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations. The right knee, high cholesterol, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, low back disability, circulatory system disability (other than hypertension), and psychiatric disability (other than delusional disorder) issues remain under review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is not service connected, either on a direct or secondary basis. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease related to the current condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is not service connected, either on a direct or secondary basis. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease related to the current condition.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including PTSD and related disabilities, have been granted. The rating for PTSD has been increased to a minimum 70 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including additional VA examinations and an addendum opinion regarding his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted service connection. The right ankle disability, excluding surgical periods, is denied an increased rating to more than 20 percent. The left lower extremity radiculitis (femoral) is granted a 20 percent initial rating. Other issues are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for lumbar spine disability was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation and remanded the claim of TDIU prior to November 18, 2016.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the lumbosacral spine, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to concerns about the effective dates of his service connection awards and the need for medical opinions regarding the onset and chronicity of his symptoms.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied. For the period from December 20, 2012 to June 16, 2017, a higher initial disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD was granted but not for the entire appeal period as some issues were remanded. Service connection claims for hand tremors and vision disorder are pending.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee and left ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability is rated at 40 percent from April 7, 2015 to June 2, 2017 and at 20 percent thereafter. The decision grants staged increased ratings for the Veteran’s service-connected low back disability.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, and back disability due to the Veteran's incarceration.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hand/wrist, low back, and left ankle conditions due to a fall from a ladder in-service. Additional medical opinions are needed regarding the etiology of these conditions.