Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for invertebral disc degeneration of the lumbar spine, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus was denied in a June 2009 rating decision and is not reopened.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for acid reflux, to include as secondary to PTSD, has been reopened with the submission of new evidence. The appeal is granted to this extent only.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied in a July 2013 rating decision and is not reopened.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been reopened with the submission of new evidence. Service connection is granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition has been granted as it is presumed related to his service.

The Board denied service connection for low back, right hip, and right ankle disabilities as the evidence did not support a link to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for a bilateral knee condition, back condition, and headaches. The claim for right ear hearing loss is denied as there is no current evidence of hearing loss meeting VA criteria. The claim for left ear hearing loss remains noncompensable.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability due to insufficient information in previous examinations.,Further examination and clarification are needed before a decision can be made on this matter.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including tendinitis and osteoarthritis, began during his last period of active service.,His right hand and left hand disabilities are presumed to have existed prior to service. The right hand disability was aggravated by service, while the left hand disability did not undergo an increase in severity during service.,The Veteran's lumbar spine strain is presumed to have existed prior to service and began during his last period of active service.,His right knee disability, including tendinitis and osteoarthritis, preexisted service but was aggravated by service. The left ear status post tympanoplasty disability began during active service.

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. Service connection is remanded for a low back condition.

Service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease with radiculopathy is granted. The effective date for the grant of service connection for cervical strain is denied and set at July 12, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the low back has been reopened, while his claims for left knee sepsis and bilateral hand disorder have been remanded. The effective date for a 50% rating for limited extension of the left knee remains unresolved.

The Board denied service connection for back disorder (claimed as arthritis), eye disorder, hearing loss, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

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

The Veteran's low back strain with sciatic pain is rated at 20% effective January 29, 2015. A separate 20% rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted since November 6, 2013.

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

The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at 10 percent prior to August 13, 2012 and 20 percent thereafter. His lumbar strain (low back disability) does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. A 10 percent rating has been granted for right knee instability since October 22, 2002. The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral syndrome is rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied claims for service connection for arthritis of the right knee and a bilateral leg condition to include loss of feeling, tingling, and numbness associated with DDD of the thoracic spine. The claim for an evaluation in excess of 40 percent for service-connected DDD of the thoracic spine was also denied.

The Veteran's DDD with radiculopathy was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and the Board finds no causal relationship between his current condition and service.,There is insufficient evidence to establish a bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes within one year of separation from active duty.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD and remanded the issues of increased ratings for lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for dizziness and headaches due to potential issues with evidence or development.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbar spine disability is denied as there are no incapacitating episodes of intervertebral disc syndrome and the evidence does not show unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of low back pain, bilateral hearing loss, and migraine headaches.