Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, finding that it is due to aggravation of a preexisting condition incurred during active duty for training (ACDUTRA). The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability due to insufficient evidence and need for additional development, including obtaining in-service treatment records.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for kidney cancer and its related conditions, as well as the issue of TDIU. The Veteran's claim for a separate neurological rating associated with his lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis is also being addressed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is related to a period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) or inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA). The AOJ needs to verify the dates and obtain an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected left hip, lumbar spine, right ankle, and left foot disabilities. The issues are inextricably intertwined with the TDIU claim.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the left shoulder, lumbar spondylosis and lumbar degenerative joint disease, and arthritis of the left knee.,Further, the appeal regarding bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed back and neck conditions, finding that these conditions are directly related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and disc degeneration have prevented her from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful activity, and she is granted a TDIU effective June 17, 2013.

The Board has remanded the claims for a low back disorder and bilateral lower extremity neurologic disorder due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's service connection claims are inextricably intertwined with the low back disorder claim.

Service connection is granted for lumbar stenosis and lumbar spondylolisthesis with instability. The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD, unspecified depressive disorder, anxiety disorder) is remanded.

The Veteran's Guillain-Barre Syndrome and lumbar spine disability have been granted service connection, with the lumbar spine disability receiving a 40% rating.

The Board has granted the petitions to reopen claims for service connection for residuals of a head injury, headaches, and lumbar strain. However, it denied these claims as there is no evidence that any current conditions are related to active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right and left foot conditions, as well as his bilateral tinnitus, are related to service. However, further examination is needed for his right ankle condition, left ankle condition, low back condition, left leg pain, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other issues.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for TMJ, lumbar spine disability, sciatica of the right leg, sciatica of the left leg, and OSA should be remanded due to incomplete service treatment records and need for further medical examination.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, including posterior disc bulges most pronounced along L3-4 and L4-5 and mild facet arthropathy. The decision is based on a finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's active service.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back condition, finding that the Veteran's current condition is causally related to his in-service injury.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection. Specifically, a VA examination is needed to assess the nature and etiology of any sleep disorder, and outstanding records are requested.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for thoracolumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder due to a lack of continuity in medical records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of evidence, particularly regarding the Veteran's range of motion and functional loss.