Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's back disability and liver condition are being remanded for further development. His TDIU claim from April 29, 2011 to May 20, 2017 is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disorder was denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.,Service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no verified in-service stressor.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on lumbosacral strain, right sciatica, and major depressive disorder (including PTSD) as they are part of an active legacy appeal. The issues have not been withdrawn.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's lower back disability is service connected, but has remanded for further development regarding his heart disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, back disability (secondary to right knee disabilities), and respiratory condition are all granted. The left knee disability was already granted in a previous decision, so the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has referred the Veteran's claims for restoration of payments, earlier effective dates for service connection and ratings, and TDIU to the RO. The issues are remanded due to procedural errors.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected back disability, right leg fasciotomy disabilities, and left leg fasciotomy disabilities are being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations that comply with Correia v. McDonald (2016) and Sharp v. Shulkin (2017).

The Board has decided to remand the case due to outstanding records and need for further examination. The Veteran's lower back disability is being reviewed, with a focus on whether it is related to his service-connected disabilities of bilateral pes planus and/or cervical spine arthritis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to the addition of new VA treatment records. These records need to be reviewed by the AOJ before further decisions can be made.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for lumbar, right hip, and right leg disabilities due to insufficient evidence in the November 2013 VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent from May 9, 2012 and continuing thereafter for bilateral tinnitus is dismissed. The claims of service connection for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and cervical spine disorder (secondary to service-connected lumbar spine disorder) are granted.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to assess the functional impact of prolonged repetitive use and flare-ups on the Veteran's low back disability. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it involves the same time periods as the increase rating claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to issues with the character of the Veteran's discharge from service and the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected chronic lumbar strain and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, and has remanded the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to the inextricably intertwined nature with the issues regarding the cervical spine.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability, finding that there is no evidence to support an in-service injury and concluding that his current condition is not related to active military service.

The claim for service connection of bilateral knee disability and lumbar degenerative disc disease is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The lower back disorder and tinnitus service connection claims are denied.

The Veteran's back condition is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to his service, including in-service complaints and duties.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back strain and right hip arthritis as secondary to post-TKR left knee synovitis due to incomplete medical opinions and need for further examination.

The Veteran's low back disability is being remanded for further examination and evaluation due to his assertion of increased severity since the last VA examination in October 2015, including flare-ups.