Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including left and right foot disabilities, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral hearing loss. The decision is based on the need for additional medical opinions and the retrieval of outstanding treatment records.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary for the Veteran to undergo examinations and obtain additional medical records, as well as for further consideration of his claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased rating for low back disability and entitlement to TDIU due to inextricably intertwined issues, including new evidence from a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for low back disability and bilateral knee disability, finding no current disabilities related to these conditions.,There is insufficient evidence to establish a service connection for the Veteran's claimed low back and bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to conflicting opinions from VA examiners regarding his hearing loss, radiculopathy, and lumbosacral spine disability. Further examination is required.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to lack of clarity in his formal appeal and procedural documents, as well as for additional medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability, which may be related to service and his postservice truck-driving occupation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder, knee, and lumbar spine disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions. The claims are being returned for further examination and consideration.

A 10 percent rating is granted for the Veteran's right-hand disability, but no more. The appeal regarding service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, left leg disorder (including radiculopathy), left knee disorder, and left foot disorder remains pending.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, and his evaluation for right knee chondromalacia patella is remanded due to new evidence received since the last decision.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and earlier effective dates related to his service-connected cervical spine disability, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and right upper extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence to be considered.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current dental disorder for which VA disability compensation is payable. The low back, left knee, and right knee issues are remanded due to incomplete medical records and need for additional examination.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral foot disability. The issue of assigning initial ratings for the now service-connected lumbar spine disability and bilateral foot disability, as well as adjudicating the entitlement to a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) prior to March 4, 2016, is REMANDED.

The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) since October 29, 2012. The right ear hearing loss disability was not referred for an extraschedular evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability, including arthritis of the lumbar spine, is related to his service-connected gunshot wound injury in Korea. The Board finds that there is at least equipoise evidence showing a continuous relationship between the 1950 gunshot wound and the Veteran's current low back condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and heart condition, finding that there is no causal relationship between his current disabilities and his active duty service. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and provide an updated opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's heart condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's low back and right knee conditions are being evaluated again as they may be related to his service-connected left knee condition.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection on multiple joint pain, cervical spondylosis, lumbar stenosis, ALS, and PTSD due to the Veteran's death.