Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The lumbar spine disability was rated at 20 percent, while the right ankle disability received a 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's retinopathy is granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The status post lumbar laminectomy with spinal stenosis at L4-L5 and L5-S1 claim remains pending.

The claims for service connection for anxiety and erectile dysfunction have been reopened.,Service connection was denied for the Veteran's back disability, diabetes mellitus, radiculopathy, diabetic retinopathy, chronic fatigue, and left foot condition resulting in toe amputations.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right ankle disorder, as it may be related to his service-connected lumbar spine, bilateral knee, and/or bilateral hip disabilities. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to effective dates for service connection and increased ratings. The Board has determined that these matters are inextricably intertwined with the proposed changes in effective dates outlined in a previous rating decision, and thus cannot be decided at this time.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of his left ankle and bilateral hearing loss disabilities have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for right hip and low back disabilities, as well as TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spine, right knee, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities due to inadequate examinations that did not include testing as required by Correia v. McDonald (2016) and Sharp v. Shulkin (2017).

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a low back disorder, left ankle disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression) due to incomplete medical records from Social Security Administration.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is not related to her active service and did not manifest during or within one year of active service.,The criteria for entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected left wrist tendonitis have not been met.,The criteria for entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for right wrist tendonitis have not been met.,The criteria for entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine have not been met.

The Board has dismissed the claims of service connection for low back disability and lumbar radiculopathy due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for lower back and lung disabilities due to insufficient reasoning in the original decision and the need for further development, including VA examinations.

The Veteran's previously denied claim for service connection of a low back disability has been reopened. The case is now remanded to determine the etiology of any current low back disability and assign an appropriate rating.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, thus meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for a right leg disability, finding no current disability. The issues of increased ratings and service connection were remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his RLE and LLE radiculopathy, low back disability, chronic sinusitis, and gastritis. The claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of RLE radiculopathy was also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives. The VA examinations need to address whether his lumbar spine, right knee, right hip, left hip, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities are at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability is reopened and granted. The Board found that the current condition is at least as likely as not caused by an in-service car accident.

The Veteran's left arm paresthesia was denied a higher rating prior to June 2, 2017 and since then has been remanded for further examination.,The Veteran’s lumbar spine disability is also being remanded due to inadequate previous examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to insufficient evidence from a recent VA examination. The Veteran needs to provide information about his treatment records, and he will undergo another VA examination.