Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to a service-connected disability, denied service connection for tinnitus and heart condition, and denied service connection for low back disability. The Veteran's claim for increased rating of cervical spine disability is denied, but the issue of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for right upper extremity radiculopathy from June 19, 2017, and left upper extremity radiculopathy remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to August 10, 2016, for the grants of service connection and TDIU/DEA benefits are being remanded due to inextricably intertwined issues.

The Board has denied service connection for a back disability, ED, PTSD, hypertension, and IBS. The claims of service connection for these conditions are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions.,Service connection was not granted as the evidence did not show that any current disabilities were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The case is being remanded due to the need for full compliance with contested claims procedures, including providing the Veteran and his attorney copies of relevant documents and informing them about their representation rights.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient explanation in a previous VA examination regarding whether the Veteran's lumbar spondylosis was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for increased initial ratings for a lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for new examinations to determine the current nature and severity of his disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for lumbar back strain was denied, and the application to reopen his sleep apnea claim was also denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for pseudofolliculitis barbae, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, cervical spine, left heel spur, and erectile dysfunction have been withdrawn. The Board has not found a compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae.,The Veteran’s acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) is remanded for further examination and opinion. His right ankle tendonitis and bilateral knee disabilities are also remanded for additional examinations to determine the severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left hip condition, low back condition, and bilateral hearing loss were all denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability as there was no evidence of chronic or continuous symptoms since service, and the Veteran did not report any such symptoms at separation.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding whether he experienced any of the claimed disabilities as a result of VA negligence/lack of care in providing surgical treatment in March 2007.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for a lumbar spine disability and has awarded service connection for degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The appeal for an increased rating for residuals of a comminuted fracture of the radius and ulna, left forearm is dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, low back disability, and sciatic nerve damage of the left and right lower extremities render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment since January 30, 2014.

The Board denied service connection for right hand and wrist disabilities, finding no direct relationship to service. Service connection was granted for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a supplemental VA opinion regarding whether the Veteran's obesity can be considered an intermediate step between his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities and his current low back disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the appeal is granted in part. The extension of temporary total rating for left shoulder surgery beyond February 1, 2016 remains denied. The appeals for right shoulder, cervical spine, and lumbar spine disabilities are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and thoracolumbar spine disorder due to insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran's left shoulder and hip disorders are also being remanded, but with specific secondary service connection issues.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc and joint disease (spondylosis) of the lumbar spine, finding it is at least as likely as not related to an in-service back injury.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic bronchitis was denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service incurrence.,His low back disability was rated at 10 percent, but the Board found that a higher rating is not warranted due to pain limiting motion and forward flexion limited to 80 degrees.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and readjudication due to insufficient rationale in previous VA opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's conditions.