Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbar spine and left shoulder disorders, heart disorder, and erectile dysfunction due to hypercholesterolemia. The Veteran is to be scheduled for VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's right shoulder disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and right inguinal hernia have been granted service connection. Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II has also been granted.,Service connection for bicuspid aortic valve is denied as it was not incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for gout, OSA, right leg disability, hypertension, and low back disability due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset or relationship to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for back disability, hernia disability, traumatic brain injury (claimed as head injury and memory loss), and hypertension. The claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, chronic atrial fibrillation, hypertension, low back disorder, and prostate cancer. The appeals for headaches with loss of balance, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are being remanded.,Service connection was not granted for any of the conditions listed in the decision.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her fundoplication scar, thoracolumbar spine scoliosis, left hip strain, bladder dysfunction, and cesarean section scar. The cases are being remanded to obtain additional examinations and determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for a right shoulder disorder, low back disorder, left knee disorder (secondary to right knee disorder), duodenal ulcer rating, and inguinal herniorrhaphy residuals. Additional VA treatment records are needed, and SSA records should be requested.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection of lower back condition, sinus condition, and sleep apnea.

The Board has found that further remand is required to obtain the Veteran’s VA treatment records for her cervical and lumbosacral strain conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is being remanded due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the need for additional evidence and examinations, as well as a request for VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back condition, residuals of a head injury, and scar of the head are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The right ankle and right foot conditions have also been remanded.

The Veteran's hypertension and right eyelid and right cheek scars have been evaluated, but the low back condition requires further examination to determine its current severity.,Service connection for congenital stenosis (low back) is not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical spine disorder, GERD, headaches (including migraines), hypertension, TBI residuals, seizures, lumbar spine disorder, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, right and left shoulder disorders, right and left wrist disorders, elbow bursitis, bilateral hand disorder, knee disorders, eye disorder, sinus disorder with nose bleeds, and face trauma have all been denied.,The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has not met the criteria for an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, finding that the current disability was not manifested in service and is not shown to be otherwise causally or etiologically related to service.

The Board has granted special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance. The issue of reopening a claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to inadequate VCAA notice.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is being remanded for further evaluation and development due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The claims for service connection for heart disorder and lumbar spine disorder are denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and will provide a VA examination for an opinion on whether any current back disability began during or was caused by service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbosacral strain is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and consideration of new evidence.