Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for a low back condition and a dental disability (claimed as mouth injury). Service connection was granted for diabetes, with the eye condition being considered secondary to diabetes.,Service connection was established for diabetes based on evidence showing exposure to diesel engine exhaust and obesity during service.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease and left ankle strain. The claim for a respiratory disability is remanded due to conflicting medical opinions.

The Board has dismissed all the claims related to the Veteran's injuries and disabilities as they are no longer relevant due to his death.

The Board has determined that the current medical evidence is insufficient to address the Veteran's claim for a low back disorder. The Veteran served in active duty from July 1983 to July 1987 and asserts that his congenital scoliosis was aggravated by service, resulting in ongoing pain since separation.

The Board has remanded the claims of tinea versicolor, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability due to incomplete development. Additional VA examinations are needed for tinea versicolor, and Social Security Administration records must be obtained for both cervical and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for back condition was granted. New evidence has been submitted that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding his left wrist disability, low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, calculus of the left ureter, and PTSD. The Veteran was granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability from September 27, 2007 to June 12, 2017.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, and lumbar spine disability as the evidence did not show any in-service injury or chronic symptoms that could be linked to these conditions.

The Board denied a higher rating for the Veteran's back disability prior to June 2, 2016, finding that the evidence did not show it met or more nearly approximated the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, finding no evidence of a direct relationship to service or service-connected cervical spondylosis. Service connection was granted for hypertension, with the preponderance of evidence supporting its onset during active duty training.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis, is etiologically related to active duty service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's back brace is judged to cause wear and tear on his clothing, which meets the criteria for a clothing allowance. The medication used for his shoulder condition does not qualify for an additional allowance.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disability is granted, and the claims of service connection for back disabilities are remanded. The Veteran's increased rating claim for his right knee disability is also remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is granted as service connected, but his sleep apnea and muscle pain claims are remanded for further development.,His low back disability and headaches are also remanded for further development. His left-hand disability claim remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to report for a VA examination. The case will be rescheduled and the functional impact of his service-connected disabilities on employment will be assessed.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection and rating reductions for the Veteran's disabilities. The propriety of the reductions in evaluations for neck disability and bilateral hearing loss is under consideration, as are other claims including those for BPH, erectile dysfunction, gout, pre-diabetes mellitus, eye disability, left ventricular hypertrophy, back pain, tongue growth removal, creatinine kinase elevation, and accessory muscle of the neck.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent since July 3, 2009, and the Board has granted this rating. The right lower extremity sciatica and left lower extremity sciatica are remanded for further review.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disability, cervical spine disability, and bilateral knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

This decision reopens the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right leg condition, left elbow condition, and left knee condition. The claim for service connection for a back condition is remanded. The claim for service connection for lumbar radiculopathy of the lower extremities is also remanded. The claim for service connection for a right knee condition (previously claimed as a right leg condition) is denied. The claim for service connection for a left elbow condition is denied.,Service connection for a right elbow condition is not granted due to lack of current diagnosis and no evidence of functional limitation or identifiable condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an extension of a temporary total rating based on convalescence due to a myelogram performed in September 2001, finding that it did not meet the criteria set forth in 38 C.F.R. § 4.30.