Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral shoulder condition, lumbar spine condition, and dental disability due to incomplete medical records. The Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability has been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a back disorder and essential tremors, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence of aggravation by military service and insufficient medical evidence linking the conditions to service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for DDD of the lumbar spine from April 30, 2012 to July 16, 2012 is denied. The reduction of her rating from 20% to 10% effective July 17, 2012 was proper.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for gastritis was dismissed.,A 70 percent rating is granted for generalized anxiety disorder with unspecified depressive disorder effective February 20, 2016.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his service connection claim for a back disorder, as well as an evaluation of his right knee degenerative arthritis. The current uniform 30 percent evaluation for the right knee condition remains unchanged.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU due to insufficient evidence regarding the severity of his lumbar spine spondylosis. The case is returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's PTSD, tinnitus, and back disability have been granted service connection. A TDIU has also been awarded effective from August 20, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine strain and lumbosacral strain have been reopened, but the Board has denied both claims due to lack of evidence linking current conditions to service. The case is remanded for further examination regarding lumbosacral strain.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and psychiatric disorder, finding that there is no competent medical evidence to show these conditions are related to any service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back condition and remanded the issue of service connection for an upper back condition.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative disease of the lumbar spine, finding that it was not incurred in or related to active duty service.,The Board remanded the issue of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II due to potential exposure to herbicide agents while serving near the territorial waters of Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate rationale in a previous VA opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back condition, and for obtaining an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection as they were submitted on an incorrect form and do not meet the requirements to be reviewed by the Board.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss. Service connection was denied for the remaining conditions: left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, lumbar spine disability, generalized anxiety disorder, migraine headaches, and sinusitis.

The claim for increased rating of thoracolumbar spine spondylosis with degenerative disc disease, status post fracture is denied. The claim for service connection of left hand pain with carpal tunnel syndrome is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, blepharitis, tension headaches, hypertension, right shoulder condition, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and cervical spine degenerative disc disease are remanded due to a duty to assist error. The Board requires VA to obtain all outstanding treatment records from the San Juan VAMC and request relevant psychiatric treatment records from Dr. M.R.

The Board has determined that the claims for headaches, neck condition (claimed as lower back condition), and right lower sciatica are remanded due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran's representative asserts continuity of symptoms since active service. The claim for transient ischemic attacks is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for pes planus, bilateral knee disability, back disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to a lack of current diagnoses at any point during or prior to the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and missing VA treatment records. The Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms since separation from service are also considered.