Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II; asbestosis; asthma; bilateral hearing loss; left shoulder disability; right shoulder disability; low back disability; left hip disability; and right hip disability are all denied. The claim for service connection of the right knee disability is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability. The Veteran is asked to provide authorization for VA to obtain any outstanding records and a qualified examiner must be provided with an addendum opinion.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for a gastric condition, to include GERD. Service connection is granted for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inconsistencies in previous decisions regarding the Veteran's service connection claims, particularly concerning his low back disability and its relationship to an in-service slip-and-fall incident.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy of the lower extremities was denied. A separate compensable rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy prior to September 19, 2017, and a higher rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy from July 31, 2019 onwards were granted.

The Veteran's lumbar spine spondylosis with degenerative disc disease is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his disability and determine if he should be granted an increased rating.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and sciatic nerve disorder due to additional development being needed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination findings regarding the Veteran's bladder and bowel problems, which may be related to his service-connected thoracolumbar strain. The Veteran will need a new VA examination to address these issues.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for cervical spine disability and neurological disabilities of the right and left upper extremities. The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, to include degenerative disc disease (DDD), on an aggravation basis. Service connection was also granted for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities secondary to the Veteran's service-connected DDD.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease of the left hip associated with right hip degenerative joint disease is denied. The issue of service connection for a lumbar spine disability is remanded due to lack of adequate medical opinions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy. The case is remanded to address a claim of entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and coccygeal fracture residuals were denied. The rating for the lumbar spine condition remains at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative spondylitis and disc disease L5/S1, an initial compensable rating for vascular headaches, and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI). The eligibility to Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits is also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to outstanding VA treatment records and worker's compensation records that need to be obtained. The Veteran’s back disorder will be reviewed again based on all available evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen claims of service connection for cervical disc disorder, back disability, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder. These issues are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, and the claim for a higher rating prior to September 27, 2016 remains in appellate status.,A remand is required due to deficiencies within the Board’s analysis regarding additional functional impairment during flare-ups.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back condition and neck disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current conditions and his active duty service.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary due to the Veteran's claims for service connection involving her right elbow, right hip, left hip, low back, sinus, and hypertension conditions. The Veteran will need to provide additional medical records from rheumatologists and undergo examinations to determine the nature of these conditions.

The Veteran's low back disorder was not incurred in service. The Board found that the current disability is not causally related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU on an extraschedular basis.