Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his low back disability, bilateral pes planus, and exercised induced hyperventilation (including asthma).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for left wrist strain, right wrist strain, and thoracolumbar strain due to inadequate examination findings.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, left knee, right knee, bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, and migraine headaches. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has ordered new VA examinations for the Veteran's cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and headache disability due to their worsening in severity.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, lower back, left ankle, and right ankle conditions as there is no evidence that any current disability began during active service or is related to an in-service injury.

The Board has found that more development is necessary prior to final adjudication of the claims on appeal, including for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, kidney disability, and hemorrhoids.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connection due to in-service noise exposure.,The claim for service connection for a low back condition, secondary to bilateral patellofemoral syndrome, has been reopened and the issue is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining a VA examination for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and foot disabilities. The cases will be returned to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) for review.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea, degenerative disc disease in the cervical spine, mild degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, left foot disorder, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, and right leg disorder have all been denied. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and service.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various disabilities, including right foot disability, cluster headaches, and bilateral hearing loss, were also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his lower back condition and bilateral radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection for hemorrhoids and lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's claims are being returned for further review.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity have been rated, but a higher rating is denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain outstanding SSA records related to the appellant's claims.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 50 percent rating prior to October 24, 2012. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is also granted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a back disability was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the claim of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, as the additional evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's back disability and its onset during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria to reopen any of the previously denied claims.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including providing a VA examination to assess the Veteran's bilateral knee disability and addressing her claims for PTSD and sleep apnea.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's cervical degenerative disc disease with spondylolisthesis, stenosis, and myelomalacia may be related to his military service. However, due to insufficient evidence, the case is being sent back for further evaluation.