Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a lower back disability, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a link between his current condition and active military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, neck, right shoulder, and left shoulder disorders due to failure to obtain necessary examinations. The issues of a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, nonservice-connected pension benefits, and service connection for degenerative bone disease are also being remanded.

The Veteran's DDD of the lumbosacral spine is currently evaluated at 40 percent, effective July 15, 2013 and as 40 percent from July 1, 2016. The Board found that his symptoms do not warrant a higher evaluation under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine or the Formula for Rating Intervertebral Disc Syndrome Based on Incapacitating Episodes.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a lack of VA treatment records from October 2003 to 2012 and an additional VA examination is needed. The Veteran's cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities are being reviewed, as well as his PTSD claim.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of a dependency allowance has been withdrawn. The appeal for service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, IVDS and strain is granted. Restoration of the 40 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically addressing whether it is at least likely as not related to his Reserve and National Guard service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The Veteran's back pain and nasal fracture during service are under review.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his degenerative changes of the lumbar spine is remanded due to insufficient information about flare-ups during previous examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional examinations and opinions to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, low back pain, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for headaches.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, finding that there was no direct or secondary service connection based on lack of evidence showing a link between his military service and his current condition.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension, allergies (including allergic rhinitis), a low back disability, and a left wrist disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee and back conditions due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's current low back disability is related to his service as a loadmaster, which required heavy lifting. The VA examiner needs to provide an opinion on the etiology of the Veteran’s current low back disability and address the conflicting private medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of back, left knee, and right knee disabilities have been granted. The claim for service connection of a left ankle disability has also been granted. However, the Board has found that further development is needed to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and bilateral pes planus was granted. Service connection for bilateral pes planus is granted as the pre-existing condition worsened during service.,Service connection for heart disorder is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability within one year post-service, and no medical opinion linking it to service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the following conditions: bilateral foot disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), back disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, diabetes mellitus, and bilateral eye disability. As a result, these issues are dismissed.

The claims for service connection of a back condition and left knee condition have been reopened. The Board has remanded the cases to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, including residuals of a spinal tap, neuropathy of the lower extremities, low back disability, and cysts, as there was no evidence to support their occurrence during service or their relationship to service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine DDD is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine if it is related to his service-connected left knee disability and whether the disability was aggravated by that condition.

The appeal for service connection for ischemic heart disease, bilateral foot disability restoration, and TDIU is dismissed. The appeals for increased ratings for various spinal disabilities, sensory deficits of the right shoulder and forearm, left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, and left leg sensory deficit are withdrawn.