Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy secondary to it, finding that there is a causal relationship between his in-service duties and his current conditions.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral shin splints, bilateral heel spurs, and initial compensable ratings for lumbar spine strain, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The claim for tinnitus was granted, but the claim for bilateral hearing loss and TBI were denied.

The Board has restored service connection for right foot strain and granted service connection for right ankle peroneus brevis and longus tenosynovitis (sinus tarsi syndrome), as well as service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right knee and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, all found to be related to service.

The Veteran's left shoulder and low back disabilities have been rated, but the current ratings are less than what he claims. The Board has ordered a new VA examination to assess the severity of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and entitlement to a rating in excess of 50 percent for right and left foot pes planus, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and he is granted a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's mechanical low back strain, patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right knee, and right hip piriformis syndrome are all rated at their maximum allowable levels.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is granted a 40 percent rating, effective from May 30, 2008. Right and left lower extremity radiculopathy associated with this condition are also granted a 10 percent rating each, effective from May 30, 2008. Bilateral hearing loss prior to June 22, 2017 is denied, but granted at 20 percent thereafter.

The Board denied service connection for a back condition, residuals of right shoulder injury, and right hand injury as the evidence did not support a direct link to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable by December 6, 2009. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was granted for the period from December 6, 2009 to July 14, 2010.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that the Veteran's conditions did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period or continuity of symptomatology was not established. The preponderance of evidence is against finding that these conditions are related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis was denied. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU is remanded due to conflicting medical opinions and the need for extraschedular consideration.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed left arm, back, and left leg disabilities as they are not related to his military service or a pre-existing condition.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spondylosis, chronic lumbar strain, left knee sprain, right knee degenerative joint disease, bilateral ankle strain, and generalized anxiety disorder. The evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral foot disorder but has remanded the issue of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder strain, lumbar degenerative disc disease (claimed as lower back strain), left carpal tunnel syndrome, and right carpal tunnel syndrome. The appeals are denied.

The Board has remanded two issues: service connection for a low back condition and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression). The Veteran's statements about his in-service experiences are not credible, so the claims will be remanded to obtain clarifying opinions from medical providers.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease is currently rated at 20 percent disabling, effective May 13, 2015. The Board found that the current rating adequately reflects the severity of his disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his active military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are being remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records, conduct a psychiatric examination using the DSM-5 criteria, and determine if sleep apnea is related to his diagnosed conditions.