Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis and spondylosis, stenosis, and degenerative disc disease, is related to service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbosacral spine disorder did not have its onset in active service or within one year thereafter, and it is not related to such service. The claim for a gynecological disorder (right ovarian cyst) will be remanded due to incomplete records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not individually or collectively preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, particularly of a sedentary nature.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete development and a need for additional evidence. The TDIU claim is dependent on the outcome of the low back disability claim.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of asbestosis or any other disability associated with asbestos exposure, and denied service connection for both conditions. The Board also found no evidence linking the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his lumbosacral strain with IVDS and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations and consideration of his claims for increased rating for a back disability, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, and TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability multiple times, and the Veteran's claim was reopened in 2010. The effective date of service connection is set at June 29, 2010.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine prior to April 17, 2014 was denied as her condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and National Guard medical records, as well as new VA examinations to assess his thoracolumbar spine disability and bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent since August 2, 2016. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for this period.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations to determine the current severity of her service-connected lumbar spine, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and urinary incontinence disabilities. The case will be returned to the Board after these examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertension is found to have caused his coronary artery disease (CAD). The Board grants the claim for service connection for CAD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to service connection for a low back disability, right foot injury, and left foot injury based on continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disability is related to his active duty service and grants entitlement to service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disability is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability during the period of the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of right third and fourth metatarsal fractures do not warrant a compensable rating. The issues regarding allergic rhinitis/sinusitis, low back strain with pain, gastritis/GERD, neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and left first metatarsal/toe condition are denied as new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen these claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for back disabilities, characterized as neck pain and mid and low back pain, and bilateral hearing loss. The evidence does not show a current disability or a relationship to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent and the claim for an increased rating greater than 10 percent is denied.,The Veteran's vertigo has been manifested by intermittent dizziness, nausea, and needing to rest; not by occasional staggering. The claim for an increased rating greater than 10 percent is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination and retrieval of outstanding medical records.