Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension but remanded the issue of service connection for a lumbar spine disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine, back, right hip, left arm (claimed as progressive muscular atrophy), and right arm disabilities. Service connection was granted for migraine headaches.

Service connection is granted for hypertension. Service connection is remanded for a low back disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for right shoulder impingement, chronic low back strain with myofascial pain, and cervical spine degenerative arthritis due to inadequate examinations that did not consider flare-ups.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, hypertension, and diabetes as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions during the pendency of his claim.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for a posthumous medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's chronic low back pain and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, as well as her radiculopathy of the left leg. The issues are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and bilateral knee disabilities have been reopened. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, low back disorder, left ankle disorder, and right ankle disorder due to in-service parachute jumps. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions on a secondary basis as they are related to his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for back, right knee, and left ankle disabilities due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine if the Veteran's left ankle disability and low back disability are related to service.

The Veteran's low back disorder is remanded for additional medical examination and development. The examiner should determine if the current low back disorder is related to service, including any injury or symptomatology therein. Dorsal scoliosis is not considered a preexisting condition due to its noted on enlistment examination.

The Board previously denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to September 20, 2016. The case is being remanded as it needs to be referred to VA’s Director, Compensation Service for initial consideration of whether a TDIU can be granted on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back condition and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. However, both claims were denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's right ankle traumatic arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine were not related to service, while his right lower radiculopathy was first noted in August 2010.,Service connection for traumatic arthritis of the right ankle is denied as it did not have onset in service or manifest within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of PTSD and thoracolumbar strain have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals in writing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cirrhosis of the liver and an increased evaluation for lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis. The Veteran was not granted service connection for cirrhosis, as there is no current diagnosis of the condition. For the period prior to October 24, 2011, a 10 percent rating was granted for lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis; however, higher ratings were denied.

The Board denied service connection for back, neck, left shoulder, right shoulder, left hip, and right hip disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The claims were not reopened as new and material evidence was not provided.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and right knee disability have been granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for right knee arthritis, left knee arthritis, right ankle arthritis, and right hip arthritis to obtain additional private treatment records. The claim for service connection for degenerative changes in the lumbar spine is also being remanded.