Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and verifying all of the Veteran's Reserve and active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,The Veteran is currently receiving maximum schedular evaluations for his ankle and hip disabilities, but further examination may reveal additional functional loss or other factors that could warrant higher ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected foot and back disabilities render him unemployable, with the Board granting a TDIU rating based on the benefit-of-the-doubt.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder disability, residuals of a right knee fracture secondary to service-connected lumbosacral spine degenerative joint disease, sleep apnea, and hypertension. The Board also remanded the issues regarding cervical spine and lumbosacral spine degenerative joint diseases.

The Veteran is not competent to handle disbursement of VA funds, and the case is remanded for further action.

The Board denied service connection for lower back disability and bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral hearing loss due to additional development being necessary.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted, and the remaining claims are remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a thoracolumbar strain as there was no evidence of a current disability, and the Veteran's statements regarding continuity of symptoms since service were inconsistent with what was noted at the time of separation. The examiner concluded that the current back/neck pain is not causally related to the in-service injury.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, headaches, and a back disability were granted in an April 2018 rating decision. As the full benefit sought on appeal was granted, further appellate review is moot.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding service connection for hypothyroidism disorder and paralysis of cranial nerve XI, as well as a TDIU from February 1, 2018.,The Veteran’s claims for increased disability evaluation in excess of 20 percent for left-knee instability and initial compensable disability evaluation for residual scars associated with left-knee injury are denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder was reopened, and the Board determined that new and material evidence had been received. The appeal is granted to reopen this claim.

The Board has decided that more evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran's current low back disability is related to her military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction and an increased rating for lumbar degenerative disc disease, finding insufficient evidence to support a secondary service connection claim. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction was not linked to his service-connected lumbar spine disability or its treatment.

The Board has remanded the claims for higher ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome of the left and right lower extremities, as well as for degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine with herniated nucleus pulposus. Additionally, the TDIU claim prior to August 11, 2009 is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's disabilities and their service-connected right foot disability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected back disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and updated treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and development of his claims, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar strain with myofascial pain, finding that his current disability is related to his military service. The decision was based on the Veteran's testimony and evidence from a duty medical technician who treated him during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for pes planus was denied as new and material evidence was not received. The Veteran's PTSD rating was increased to 50% effective September 18, 2017, but the appeal is denied for a higher rating prior to that date.