Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and TDIU prior to July 2, 2008. The evidence did not support the Veteran's claim that his current low back disability was related to service.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence showing a pre-service or in-service onset. The skin disability claim is remanded as the Veteran may have been exposed to Agent Orange during service, and his current condition could be related.,Service connection for a back disability and bilateral hip disability are also remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and cause of the Veteran's spine disability, specifically whether his service-connected right-knee disability aggravated it or if it was incurred in military service.

The Board has determined that there is at least a 50% chance that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability was caused or aggravated by his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine prior to August 13, 2015 is dismissed due to his death.

A rating of 40 percent for the Veteran's back disability is granted from July 16, 2009.,A rating of 70 percent for the Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted from November 5, 2013.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disorder, finding that her disorders developed after service and were more likely due to post-service wear and tear and aging.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for DDD, chronic dry eye, GERD, nephrolithiasis, and hypothyroidism have been dismissed. The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus.,For PTSD prior to January 25, 2018, the Veteran received a 50 percent rating which has now been denied. From that date forward, he is rated at 70 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for gastrointestinal disability, low back disability, and right shoulder disability due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical opinions regarding the onset and etiology of his current disabilities.

An initial 10 percent rating for right little finger disability is granted, subject to the regulations governing the award of monetary benefits.,Entitlement to an initial rating higher than 10 percent for cervical spine degenerative disc disease is denied.

The Veteran's lumbar facet joint arthropathy and disc disease are granted service connection, but the sciatic nerve disorder is remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current back disability and his service. The Veteran will be provided a VA examination to determine if any pre-existing lumbar spine disorder clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service, and whether it is related to an in-service injury or event.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for a left knee condition and low back disorder, finding new and material evidence. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and the need to clarify whether the Veteran is receiving Social Security Administration benefits. The claims will be further evaluated based on new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been denied, including for his lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities. The TDIU claim was granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development and examination regarding his service-connected disabilities, including a pain-based disability of the toes, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, patellofemoral syndrome of the knees, and SMC based on need for aid and attendance.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disorder and left hip disorder, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service. The decision is based on a continuity of symptomatology theory for the left hip disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability and now service-connected lumbar spine disability, respectively. The decision is based on the opinion that these conditions are aggravated by the service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his service-connected lumbar spondylosis with radiculopathy and degenerative joint disease (DJD) is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate based on the evidence provided.