Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The reduction in the rating for cervical spine disability from 30 percent to 10 percent, effective August 1, 2015, was improper and the 30 percent rating is restored.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disabilities are related to his military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for psoriatic arthritis and kidney disorder are remanded due to the AOJ failing to notify him of their findings regarding his treatment records from 'Arthritis Associates' in Hixson, Tennessee. The Veteran also has secondary theories of entitlement for these conditions.,The Veteran's service connection claim for a kidney disorder is remanded as he used Naproxen extensively to treat his service-connected orthopedic disorders and over time, the Naproxen damaged his kidneys.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a thoracolumbar strain. The Veteran's claim for these conditions is now pending again.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to a lack of recent VA examination and outstanding records. The Veteran needs to be provided with a new VA examination to assess his current disability severity.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new examination of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and related neurological manifestations.

The Board has decided to remand the issue of service connection for a back disorder due to insufficient evidence and need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disorder, which may be related to his reported injury during reserve service in 1982.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a lumbosacral strain (back condition), rating in excess of 10 percent for status post right ankle avulsion fracture, and total disability rating based upon unemployability (TDIU) due to new evidence.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of scoliosis of the thoracolumbar spine, and this matter is dismissed.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for low back strain with degenerative disc disease and remanded it for further development, including a VA examination. The TDIU issue is also being remanded.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service treatment records contain complaints of back pain, and thus remands the matter for a VA examination to determine if any diagnosed low back condition is related to service.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to clarify the Veteran's back disability, specifically whether he experiences flareups and their impact on his functional ability. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his service-connected right lower extremity radiculopathy and lumbar spine disability, as well as the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to June 15, 2011.

The Board has granted service connection for left foot plantar fasciitis and low back disability, but the right foot condition remains unresolved.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability is related to his in-service injury and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for anemia was denied, and service connection for various conditions including low back disability, PTSD, alcohol-related disorder, tobacco abuse disorder, TIA, cardiac murmur, right bundle branch block, atypical pneumonia, sinus disability, headache disability, gastroenteritis, PFB, chalazion surgery residuals, and subconjunctive hemorrhage of the right eye was denied. The Veteran's anemia is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service, granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an annual clothing allowance for a back brace used to treat his service-connected lumbar spine disability is remanded due to lack of clarity on the type and source of the brace.

The appeal for an initial, compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed.,Service connection for a respiratory disability (pneumonia) is denied. The Veteran's current breathing problems are not related to his service.