Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various joint disabilities, including painful aching joints of the entire body and osteoarthritis. The VA will obtain relevant medical records from VA, SSA, and private providers, and schedule the Veteran for additional examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's back disability is related to service. The examiner needs to address the Veteran's contentions and provide a clear rationale for their opinion.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, right leg radiculopathy, left leg radiculopathy, and chronic sinusitis. The claim for sleep disturbance was remanded.,Service connection for the Veteran's low back disability is denied as there is no evidence of a nexus to her military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities due to conflicting evidence and need for further examination.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for insomnia as a symptom of an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board has also remanded this issue.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluation of his disabilities due to incomplete records and need for additional examinations.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for several service connection claims, including those related to PTSD, hypertension, heart condition, back condition, right hip condition, left hip condition, bilateral feet peripheral neuropathy, and monoclonal gammopathy. The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for clarification of medical examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus was dismissed due to the appellant's withdrawal.,Service connection was denied for cervical, low back, and right knee disabilities. The Veteran did not have TBI or a vision problem at any time during the pendency of the claim.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including the spinal stimulator and multiple surgeries, is granted at a 40 percent rating since April 9, 2019.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from performing physical labor and office-type work since at least August 12, 2013. The Board has determined that the criteria for a TDIU have been met since at least August 12, 2013.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right knee, left knee, and back disabilities due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's military experiences with long marches in heavy gear are suggested as a possible cause.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluations for lumbosacral spine, IVDS with DDD is denied. Prior to December 14, 2018, the evaluation was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. Beginning December 14, 2018, the evaluation remains denied due to lack of findings of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for back condition, left ankle injury, hypertension, and sleep disorder due to outstanding medical records and further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to an incomplete VA examination and a need for additional evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's low back disorder and his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee conditions. The case is being remanded to determine the nature and origin of her low back condition and vaginal disorder (previously claimed as chronic yeast infections).,Service connection for a low back condition and vaginal disorder are both currently pending and will be addressed again after obtaining additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is also remanded.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations scheduled for November 2018 were not conducted due to cancellation, and thus a new examination is needed. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it may be impacted by the development of the disability claim.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected degenerative lumbar disc disease. The appeal for increased ratings on the remaining issues are dismissed.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability was granted a 40% rating from February 26, 2019. The effective date for this rating is not specified.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need to comply with a Court decision in Correia v. McDonald, 28 Vet. App. 158 (2016).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for DJD of the lumbar spine, right hip, and left hip due to conflicting medical opinions. The Veteran asserts that his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities have caused or aggravated his current lumbar spine and bilateral hip conditions.