Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to outstanding service treatment records and the need for updated VA medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed bilateral knee, hip, and low back disabilities.

The Veteran's scar on the head is granted service connection.,Service connection for a lumbar spine disability is granted, but no increased rating is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with spinal stenosis, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has readjudicated the claims of service connection for left knee disability and back disability due to new evidence received after prior final denials.,Service connection is granted for lumbar degenerative disc disease, bilateral lumbar radiculopathy of the lower extremities (secondary to lumbar degenerative disc disease), hemorrhoids, and anal fistula with anal fissure and partial sphincter loss (secondary to hemorrhoids).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, back disability, and radiculopathy, prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational background and occupational experience. Therefore, entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for her low back, left knee, and left shoulder conditions due to inadequate consideration of secondary service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for DDD lumbar spine with IVDS and mechanical low back pain (claimed as lower back injury) due to insufficient evidence linking his current diagnosis to service. A VA examination is needed to provide a medical opinion on this issue.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for his intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) in the lumbar spine status post sacral fracture was denied. The VA found that the disability manifested with forward flexion at 70 degrees and a combined range of motion at 210 degrees, without evidence of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability and a psychiatric disability (claimed as PTSD), but denied service connection for an eye disability.

The Board has remanded several claims due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions, as there is insufficient evidence of record by which to make a decision.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a disability manifested by low back pain due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's lumbar spine scar is rated under DC 7805. The most probative evidence of record establishes that the Veteran's lumbar spine scar is neither unstable nor painful, as is required for a compensable rating under DC 7804. As indicated above, there is no basis for a higher rating under any of the other potentially applicable DCs.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and a need for further examination. The Veteran's lay statements about her back pain since service are considered, but more medical evidence is needed.

The Board has determined that there may be outstanding evidence in the case and is therefore remanding it for further action.

The Board has remanded the claims for low back disability and acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) due to incomplete records from VA treatment centers. Additional development is needed, including obtaining clinical records from October 1988 through February 2000 from San Juan VAMC and any SSA disability benefits records. A new VA opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders must be obtained.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder was reopened and granted due to the submission of new evidence showing a current diagnosis of a low back disorder that is related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing service treatment records and inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran's back disability is being reviewed again for a proper opinion on its etiology.

The Veteran's GERD has been rated as noncompensable, but a higher rating of 10 percent is granted. The Veteran's cerebral aqueduct stenosis with headaches and cervical degenerative disc disease are both remanded for further examination.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability, including cervical stenosis with radiculopathy, and lumbar radiculopathy as secondary to the residuals of a compression fracture of the thoracic spine.,The Board found that there was no evidence linking the Veteran's current disabilities to his military service or any service-connected conditions.