Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, low back disability, bilateral leg disability, and residuals of left hand and fingers injury due to conflicting evidence in the record.,Further medical examination is needed to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and his claims for bilateral hearing loss and acquired psychiatric disorder are granted. The claim for service connection for a back disorder remains denied.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for posttraumatic headaches was granted at a 50 percent rating. The claim for service connection of lumbar degenerative disc disease and lumbar spondylosis as secondary to TBI is remanded.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for posttraumatic headaches was granted at a 50 percent rating. The claim for service connection of lumbar degenerative disc disease and lumbar spondylosis as secondary to TBI is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's back disability is aggravated by his service-connected bilateral pes planus. The nonservice-connected pension benefits claim remains pending.

The Board has decided to remand the service connection claims for lower back and neck conditions due to a lack of VA examinations, and the need for additional development including obtaining medical records.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active service.,Service connection was also not granted for an acquired psychiatric disability, left leg healed anterior stress fracture, or residuals of right ankle sprain and trauma.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings on an extraschedular basis for his service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, finding that the symptoms are adequately addressed by the current rating schedule.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability. The conditions are found to be at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board denied the reopening of a claim for service connection for a low back disorder due to lack of new and material evidence, as no additional pertinent service department records have been received since the last denial.

The Veteran's increased ratings for cervical spine desiccation with degenerative disc disease and arthritis, left cubital tunnel syndrome, and right cubital tunnel syndrome have been denied.,Earlier effective date claims for the increased ratings of cervical spine desiccation with degenerative disc disease and arthritis, left cubital tunnel syndrome, and right cubital tunnel syndrome have also been denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbar spine disorder, right hip disorder, hepatitis C, tension headaches (claimed as migraine headaches), and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include bipolar disorder and PTSD due to additional evidence being submitted since the last decision.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance due to his service-connected back disability was denied as he did not provide evidence of damage to his shirts that would justify the allowance.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for tinnitus, as his service treatment records contain evidence of 'intermittent tinnitus' during his Post-Deployment Health Assessment. The other issues remain in dispute and are to be addressed with a VA examination.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's right hip disability and lumbosacral strain, as the current evidence does not provide sufficient information to make an informed decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on remanded issues are currently pending and will be reconsidered by the RO. The remaining denied conditions include acquired absence of teeth, fatty liver, left great toe bunion with osteoarthritis and gout, right great toe bunion with osteoarthritis and gout, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), pain in all joints and muscles, bilateral hearing loss, right Achilles tendonitis with calcaneal spurs, bilateral Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS), hernias, left knee osteoarthritis, and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine is rated at 20 percent, but the Board granted a higher rating to 40 percent based on functional limitations and pain.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were denied. The case is remanded for further action.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for an examination to determine if the Veteran's low back disorder is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability diagnosed as progressive arthritis. The appeal is being remanded for further development and consideration of other issues.