Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has decided that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability may be related to service, but a VA examination is needed to determine if this is true.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus, right knee disability, and right shoulder disability are all granted as service-connected. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is also granted as secondary to PTSD.,Service connection for a low back disability is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for tension headaches, lumbar spine strain, left knee strain, and right thumb strain disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating than 30 percent for tension headaches or 10 percent for the other conditions.

The Veteran's body lesions and cysts are at least as likely as not related to her service-connected eczema.,Service connection is granted for diabetic neuropathy of the right lower extremity, left lower extremity, and body lesions and cysts.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for various conditions due to insufficient evidence or procedural deficiencies. The Veteran's claims are related to his existing service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and the Board has granted a TDIU.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 10 percent, and his hypertension is also rated at 10 percent. The Board denied increased ratings for both conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including right shoulder condition, left wrist condition, back condition, right knee condition, skin condition, sleep disturbance, kidney condition, bladder condition, and psychiatric condition. The claims are not supported by evidence of in-service onset or a nexus to service.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a hernia disability and a headache disability are reopened, but further development is needed to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's unauthorized ambulance transportation services for a syncopal event related to his service-connected cervical degenerative disc disease are granted.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death, finding that the Veteran's causes of death were not related to his military service and that none of his service-connected disabilities caused or contributed substantially to his death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened, but the Board is remanding it due to new and material evidence provided by the Veteran.,The Veteran's olecranon bursitis remains rated at 10 percent. The Board is remanding his claim for a higher rating.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is rated at 10 percent since January 1, 2019 and denied for higher ratings prior to that date.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity was initially granted a 20 percent rating effective January 1, 2019.,The Veteran is now entitled to a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for thoracic and lumbar spine scoliosis (low back disability) has been reopened, but the issue remains remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's claim for service connection for joint pain is also remanded as he did not undergo a VA examination regarding his exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disorder, left knee osteoarthritis, right foot degenerative arthrosis, and left foot nonunion. The issues of service connection for ear disorders (including tinnitus and otitis media), a right shoulder disorder, and asthma are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for low back strain due to inadequate development and lack of a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations, as well as compliance with prior Board directives.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and TDIU due to incomplete development and need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran's representative challenged the adequacy of the April 2018 examinations, which found that additional functional impairment during flare-ups could not be determined without resort to mere speculation.

The Veteran's sleep disorder and lumbar strain disability are not service-connected, with the exception of a secondary relationship to his service-connected back disability. The Veteran is granted a 40 percent rating for his lumbar strain from February 21, 2012 to August 9, 2016.