Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disability, prostate disorder (including residuals of prostate cancer and residuals of prostate surgery), and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including posttraumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, depressive disorder, and an anxiety disorder) due to incomplete development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a lack of VA examinations based on the period of honorable active duty service. The Appellant is reminded that his cooperation in scheduling these exams is essential.

The Veteran's left knee condition is related to his active service and the claim for service connection for a low back disability is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and failure to address conflicting evidence within the record. The Veteran's low back disability is being examined again by a VA orthopedic specialist.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of right and left knee disabilities, as well as his claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes. The appeal was also remanded for further action on other issues.

The Veteran's service connection for LLE radiculopathy was granted secondary to his service-connected low back disability. The effective date of this grant is set at May 18, 2007.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and low back disability, have rendered him unemployable as of September 5, 2013. The Board has granted TDIU based on the combined rating of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for left foot arthritis and right foot arthritis. The back disability appeal is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current back disability is secondary to his service-connected bilateral hip disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disability as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and traumatic arthritis of the cervical spine with tension headaches, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted TDIU based on these conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a higher rating for his back disability, which was previously reduced and then reinstated.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee and lumbar spine disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU, as well as service connection for back and hip conditions. The AOJ must obtain a VA examination and opinions to determine the current nature and severity of the knee disability and whether it permanently worsened any current back or right hip condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not related to her service-connected hypertension, and instead more likely due to obesity. The other conditions listed are remanded for further review.,The Veteran’s claims for left shoulder disability, low back disability, bilateral foot disabilities, gastrointestinal disability (GERD), right hip disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral ankle disability are all being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back disability, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea due to unresolved issues and need for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disorder is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability prior to July 17, 2019 is denied as the evidence does not show that his forward flexion was less than or equal to 60 degrees.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an opinion regarding the etiology of any current back disability, including associated right lower extremity radiculopathy. The Veteran's claims for service connection remain pending.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination and lack of clear opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability, as well as whether it is related to service-connected left upper back shell fragment wound residuals.