Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar disc disease and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, both secondary to a service-connected disability.

The application to reopen the claim for entitlement to service connection for a back condition is denied.,The application to reopen the claim for entitlement to service connection for seizures is denied.,The application to reopen the claim for entitlement to service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities due to inadequate examination findings. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as part of this process.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for a back disability from November 8, 2014. The remaining issues have been remanded due to procedural and rating criteria issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence received since his last VA examination, and because some issues have not been addressed in detail.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder is not related to service and denied reopening of his claim. Service connection for a low back disorder was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine the current severity of his back disability and radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine facet arthropathy is being remanded due to outstanding private treatment records. The TDIU claim has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew it.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disability, finding that there was no evidence to support an in-service injury or chronic condition. The Veteran's symptoms began many years after his military service and were not related to any incident during active duty.

The Veteran's low back degenerative disc disease with disc herniation and left hip arthritis have been granted service connection, as the evidence is in equipoise that these conditions are related to his active duty.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar strain and left knee disorder, but finds that additional development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess current severity.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including those pertaining to his back condition, eye condition, sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, and migraines. The remaining conditions have been denied.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease and herniated nucleus pulposus was granted, with a separate 20% rating assigned for each lower extremity radiculopathy. The Veteran's original 40% evaluation for the lumbar spine condition from March 10, 2016, remains unchanged.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to insufficient evidence or need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities due to a lack of recent VA treatment records from July 2015 to the present. The Veteran is asked to provide any necessary authorization for these records, which may include further information about his symptoms and diagnoses.

The Veteran's back disability to include, back strain and spinal stenosis is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.,The Veteran's sleep apnea is denied as it is not related to service or his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and low back disorders have been remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar strain with degenerative joint disease and left lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to the submission of additional VA treatment records and contract examinations after the issuance of the August 2015 Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations. The hearing loss claim is denied, while tinnitus remains at its maximum rating of 10 percent. Service connection requests are pending.