Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of whether a TDIU on an extraschedular basis is warranted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease, L5-S1 and major depressive disorder are being remanded due to outstanding SSA records that need to be obtained.

The case is being remanded for further development to address the Veteran's back and left shoulder disabilities, as well as his claims for higher ratings and TDIU. The Veteran will be provided with another VA examination to assess the current nature and severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disorder and a lumbar spine disorder, finding that the disorders were not incurred or aggravated by service.,A 10 percent rating was also denied for multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition and headaches due to insufficient rationale in medical opinions provided, and the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a new VA examination regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board finds that additional development is needed to determine if his low back disability, bronchitis, vasovagal syncope, heart condition and high blood pressure are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's application to reopen his claim of service connection for residuals of a low back injury, finding no new and material evidence since the final February 2007 rating decision.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the merits of the Veteran's claims, including VA treatment records and private medical records. The appeals are therefore being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for multilevel lumbar spondylosis with herniated disc at L4-L5 and left lumbar radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for additional examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including left shoulder condition, lower back condition, right shin splint, left shin splint, and right ankle condition. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active military service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a back disability, neck disability, bilateral hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to inextricably intertwined issues with TDIU. The Veteran's income was found not to exceed maximum annual pension rates, allowing him to receive NSC pension.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied, while some service connection claims were granted or reopened. The appeal is remanded for further action on several issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an examination that complies with the requirements in Sharp v. Shulkin, 29 Vet. App. 26 (2017) and Correia v. McDonald, 28 Vet. App. 158 (2016).

The Veteran's request to reopen claims for service connection for a seizure disorder, back disorder, and neck disorder is granted. The claim for service connection for the seizure disorder is reopened due to new evidence provided by a private provider. The claims for service connection for the back disorder and neck disorder remain denied as no new and material evidence has been submitted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for Reiter’s syndrome and a back disability due to new evidence received since the last denial. The Veteran's testimony indicates these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there was no credible evidence of an in-service injury or disease and no continuity of symptomatology since separation. The preponderance of the evidence did not support a causal relationship between the current low back disability and service.

The Veteran's lumbar strain is granted as secondary to his service-connected knee condition.,Service connection for basal cell carcinoma of the nose is granted based on in-service sun exposure.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his lumbar spine disability was denied as the evidence did not show unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar or entire spine.

The Board has decided to remand two issues: the rating for a lumbar spine disability and the rating for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran will need new VA examinations to determine their current severity.