Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and need for additional evidence. The issues include bilateral knee conditions, cervical spine condition, thoracolumbar spine condition, bilateral ankle conditions, partial loss of use of lower extremities, and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability as secondary to the service-connected bilateral pes planus is remanded. The claims for increased ratings for bilateral pes planus and residuals of a right foot fracture, and peptic ulcer are also remanded.

The Board granted the reopening of the claim for service connection for low back disability, finding new and material evidence has been received.

The Veteran's lumbar degenerative changes and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been rated, but the current ratings are denied as they do not reflect the severity of his conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations and records from SSA.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability for the period between December 18, 2012 and February 24, 2017.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine disability, finding that it is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, neck, and deviated nasal septum conditions due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine if his current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hepatitis C, frostbite of the right hand, frostbite of the left hand, frostbite of the right foot, frostbite of the left foot, lumbar spine disability, and cervical spine disability. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability due to failure to schedule a VA examination. The Veteran was not made aware of the attempt, and there is no evidence that he received proper notice.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examination and incomplete medical records. The Veteran's upper back disability is being reviewed again for proper service connection.

The Board found no CUE in the November 2008 rating decision that granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and hypertension, both with non-compensable ratings. The Veteran's arguments were deemed to be disagreements as to how the facts were weighed or evaluated.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and low back disability have been remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. The Board found that new evidence has been received sufficient to reopen the previously denied claims, but further examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar degenerative spine disease and a right shoulder condition due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of a back disorder due to conflicting medical opinions and need for additional evidence. The Veteran's right knee disorder may be aggravating her back disorder, but this needs further clarification.

The Veteran's sciatic nerve involvement and lumbar spine scar are currently evaluated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has denied service connection for a back disorder and right heel spurs, but has remanded the cases of left shoulder disorders due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has denied service connection for CFS and a rating greater than 30 percent for IBS, but has remanded the remaining issues due to inadequate examination opinions.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of beneficiary travel expenses associated with dental treatment to and from the VAMC in West Haven, Connecticut is denied as he was not entitled to such payments due to VA regulations requiring reimbursement from his points of entry into the United States.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, left ankle disorder, prostate cancer (secondary to asbestos exposure), right knee disorder, lower back disorder, tinnitus, and sarcoidosis. The claims are being reviewed due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.