Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has granted reopening of the claim for service connection for left knee disability and finds that new and material evidence has been received. The Veteran's right knee disability is not considered to have caused or aggravated his current left shoulder condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for a back condition, a nervous condition, and high blood pressure. However, the preponderance of the evidence is against finding that these conditions were incurred in or are otherwise related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and neck disorders are related to his military service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a back disability. The Veteran's current diagnosis of lumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD) is related to her active duty service.,For bilateral hearing loss, the Board finds that there is no competent medical evidence showing a nexus between the Veteran's in-service noise exposure and her current right ear hearing loss. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss cannot be granted.

The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on loss of use of the lower extremities and automobile and adaptive equipment is denied as he does not meet the criteria for these benefits.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the issues of increased ratings for Parkinson's disease and service connection for various knee and spine disorders have been dismissed.

The Board has granted secondary service connection for a neurological deficit of the left leg, which is related to the Veteran's service-connected low back disability. The issue of a higher initial rating for right shoulder labral tear and surgical repair with ongoing residuals symptoms of pain was withdrawn by the Veteran prior to the decision being issued.

The Veteran's service-connected left lower extremity popliteal nerve injury with foot drop is rated at the highest available rating without violating the Amputation Rule. His SFW scars are not compensably rated due to their static nature.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the claims of service connection for gastritis and increased ratings for sinusitis, chronic lumbosacral strain, right leg shin splints, left leg shin splints, and right elbow ulnar neuropathy. The Board has no further jurisdiction in these matters.

The Board denied service connection for TBI claimed as brain trauma with stroke, migraine headaches, cervical spine disorder, upper arm neuropathy and radiculopathy, low back disorder, and GERD. The Veteran's disabilities were not shown in service or within one year thereafter, and are not otherwise etiologically related to the Veteran's service.,The Board found that there was no evidence of a TBI during service and provided a negative nexus opinion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the inadequacies of a previous VA examination and obtain updated medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar back condition was incurred during service and granted service connection for this disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for another VA examination to assess the current severity and manifestations of his service-connected chronic low back pain/strain with L5-S1 disc degeneration and herniation, status post microdiskectomy, with subjective radiculopathy. The case will be reviewed after completing the necessary development.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his service, as evidenced by in-service noise exposure and current hearing impairment. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran's hand tremors are caused by the medications used to treat his service-connected disabilities, and he is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability did not initially manifest in service and there is no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and service. The claim for service connection was therefore denied.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a link to service.

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

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling new VA examinations to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed low back, left knee, left shoulder, and psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder is due to injury superimposed upon his congenital scoliosis during service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.