Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for lower back disability due to lack of evidence showing a chronic condition in service or within the applicable presumptive period, and found no continuity of symptomatology. The Veteran's current degenerative disc disease was attributed to natural causes rather than his military service.,For the right hand little finger disability, the Board denied an initial rating higher than 0 percent as there is no evidence of limitation of motion or other compensable symptoms.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar disorder due to lack of evidence linking the condition to active duty. The case was remanded for further examination and evaluation regarding bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disorders due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's appeals for asthma, internal hemorrhoids, left and right carpal tunnel syndrome, cervical spine condition, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spine disability have been dismissed. The case is remanded for further examination on the issue of service connection for a cervical spine condition.

Service connection is granted for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, anxiety, and a respiratory disability (lungs). An earlier effective date for service connection for anxiety is denied. A TDIU rating is granted. Service connection for diabetes mellitus is remanded.

The Board has determined that new evidence supports reopening the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and low back disabilities, which are found to be secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability. The decision is based on the Veteran's reported altered gait due to his right ankle injury.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of service connection for allergic rhinitis, shingles, and tension headaches. The claims for left foot arthritis, chest pain (costochondritis), cervical spine disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, left knee disability, left ankle disability, and left heel spur are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a lumbar spine condition and associated radiculopathy due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran will need to undergo further examination to determine if his conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including recurrent lumbar spine disorder, left hip disorder, right knee disorder, psychiatric disorder to include a not otherwise specified depressive disorder, and recurrent sleep disorder have been denied. The issues related to these conditions are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability is rated at a 20 percent effective January 17, 2008 and at a 40 percent effective August 21, 2013.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for consideration of an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection and increased rating for his lumbar spine disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 40 percent for his lumbar spine condition and left knee condition due to outdated VA examinations. The Veteran will need new VA examinations to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine condition, left ankle condition, bilateral pes planus, and COPD. The Veteran's right foot hallux valgus was granted a compensable rating of 10%.

The Board has granted a 20% disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected left lower extremity radiculopathy. The claim is being remanded to obtain additional records and determine if the Veteran qualifies for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and right ankle sprain have been rated, but the appeals for increased ratings are denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as the RO needs to refer the case to the VA Director of Compensation and Pension Service for consideration under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b) due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine and right hip disorders, finding no evidence of chronic disability in service or within one year thereafter. The Veteran's current conditions are not presumed to have been incurred due to military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's applications to reopen his claims for service connection for low back disorder, right ankle instability, and sleep apnea. The claims are remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence and for further medical examinations.

The Veteran's lumbar L2-L3 arthritis was initially granted an initial rating of 20 percent effective October 23, 2012. The Board found that the evidence supported a finding that his symptoms warranted this rating for the period prior to December 3, 2015.