Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service connection claim for a hernia disorder has been denied as there is no evidence linking the current condition to his active duty service.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) remains denied, as it does not meet the criteria for a 30% rating under VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including a back disorder, an eye disorder, obstructive sleep apnea and other sleep problems, acid reflux, skin disorders, headache disorder, peripheral neuropathy, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for additional development.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for diabetes due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The back disorder claim is remanded as it was not fully adjudicated.

The claims for service connection of right hand condition, bilateral hearing loss, PTSD and low back condition have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal. The claim for service connection of low back condition is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability and denied an earlier effective date for the grant of a 40 percent rating for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine. The Veteran's cervical spine disability was not incurred in service, and his claim for increased rating for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine is granted with an effective date of September 17, 2005.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disorder and right knee disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by his military service. The claim for secondary service connection for right leg and rump pain was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for fibromyalgia, headache disorder, left leg disorder, back disorder (arthritis), and acquired psychiatric disorder was denied. The claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.,Service connection for headache disorder was denied as the condition is not a diagnosable chronic multi-symptom disorder that was not manifest in service or attributable to service.

The Board has decided the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine degenerative disc disease (DDD) and is remanding them due to a lack of recent examination.

The Veteran's neck disability is being remanded for further development.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability claim, including the issue of an earlier effective date, and his TDIU claim are also being remanded.

The claim for service connection for a low back disability is granted, but the Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain additional medical records and provide an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, and a heart condition have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or etiological relationship to service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for schizophrenia and headaches have been remanded due to conflicting medical opinions and the need for further examination.

The Veteran's back disability is being remanded for further evaluation and diagnostic testing to determine the presence of ankylosis.

The Veteran's PTSD, acne, back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and gastrointestinal disorder are all remanded for further examination and opinion. The appeal is not about service connection.

The Board has determined that the VA examination provided in November 2014 was inadequate for addressing whether the Veteran's chronic low back disability is secondary to his service-connected cervical spine disability. The case is being remanded to obtain a new opinion from an appropriate examiner.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examinations and a need for further evidence regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's low back disability has been rated at 40 percent since the beginning of the appeal period, with limitation of flexion to no more than 30 degrees.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 40 percent for his lumbosacral spine disability and for an effective date prior to May 22, 2012, for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran needs further VA examinations to determine the current nature and severity of his lumbosacral spine disability.

The Veteran's lumbar degenerative disease and right lower extremity radicular pain were granted increased ratings, effective January 9, 2012. The effective dates for service connection of the right leg disability and TDIU benefits were also established.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine disability, OSA, and hepatitis B as they are not related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the claims for increased rating of scar with muscle loss on left thigh and reopening of low back disability claim are not considered further.