Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, eye disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these disabilities are related to service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a low back disability and finds that new evidence supports this reopening. The Veteran's diagnosed conditions, including degenerative arthritis of the spine, intervertebral disc syndrome, L5 spondylosis with associated Grade 2 spondylolisthesis L5-S1 with degenerative disc disease, radiculopathy with bilateral sciatic nerve involvement, and scoliosis convexed to the left, are considered service-connected.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance due to use of back and knee braces is denied as the Undersecretary for Health did not certify that these appliances cause wear and tear to his clothing.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, hypertension, lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and bilateral eye disorders are all found to have onset during service.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the issues of service connection for various conditions, including psychiatric disorders and cardiovascular diseases.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing an updated VA medical opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine condition is related to his service-connected bilateral pes planus and bilateral knee disabilities, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar, thoracic, and cervical spine disabilities have been confirmed, along with associated radiculopathy. The appeal for increased ratings is addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left eye disabilities, residuals of inner head injury, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities. The TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his service-connected lumbar DDD and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 40 percent for either condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hyperlipidemia, low back disability, tinnitus, hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and a left thigh scar, have all been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities during the appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (lumbar degenerative disc disease and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy) have rendered him unemployable for work consistent with his education and work experience.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of low back, left hip, and right hip disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disorder is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities have been denied by the RO. The Board has remanded these matters to allow for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disorder is currently rated at 20 percent, and his thoracolumbar spine disorder is rated at 10 percent. The Board finds the evidence supports a higher rating for both conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of low back disability and bilateral hip disability. The appeal for service connection of acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression) is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and a burn scar of the right arm, finding that there was no credible evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's service is not considered during a recognized period of war, thus denying her eligibility for VA nonservice connected disability pension benefits.