Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board restored service connection for lumbar spine disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and rhabdomyolysis of the right and left lower extremities effective December 1, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck condition and a lumbar spine condition, as well as his request for an increased disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations to evaluate the significance of the medical literature provided in his appellate brief.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection and whether new and material evidence was obtained to reopen claims for various conditions. The Veteran's character of discharge is also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine has been dismissed because he withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 10 percent, and the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claim for a low back disability, but remanded for additional development regarding his hearing loss and scoliosis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and assessments. The issues include right knee, left knee, low back, right ankle, and obstructive sleep apnea disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability has been reopened and remanded. The Veteran's cervical spine strain is also being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus from December 14, 2012 to the present were denied. The Veteran was also denied entitlement to TDIU due to lack of evidence showing he is unemployable solely by reason of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional examinations to determine the severity of the Veteran's service-connected right wrist scapholunate ligament tear, degenerative joint disease of the sacroiliac joints with lumbar osteoporosis, and right hip degenerative joint disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities related to his in-service motor vehicle accidents and therefore denied service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, and right hip disabilities. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding residuals of a head injury.

The Board has denied service connection for left leg and right leg radiation burns, as well as tailbone condition (claimed as a low back condition), bilateral ankle conditions, and bilateral eye injuries including left eye injury. The case is remanded for further development regarding these issues.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for left lower extremity neurological impairment as a result of disc prolapse at L5-S1 has been withdrawn. The appeals for higher ratings for IVDS of the thoracic and lumbar spine, and for TDIU are being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain disability is rated at 20 percent effective from August 22, 2016. The Board finds the evidence to be in equipoise as to whether a higher rating is warranted for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the evidence did not support a conclusion that it was incurred in or aggravated by service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has denied an increased rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and remanded the issues of service connection for sleep apnea and left side numbness. The case is now REMANDED to obtain updated VA treatment records, schedule a VA examination to determine the etiology of sleep apnea, and another VA examination to differentiate any neurological disorder from radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various conditions due to outstanding VA and Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in significant mobility limitations and the need for regular aid and attendance of another person. The Board has ordered a VA examination to assess his current severity and whether he is in need of such assistance.

The Board has granted service connection for post-traumatic degenerative disease of the lumbar spine and cervical spine, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not caused by the Veteran's service-connected migraines.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to evaluate the Veteran's lumbar spine and left knee disabilities, including updated VA examinations. The derivative claim for TDIU is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claims.