Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for back and bilateral foot disabilities, finding that the preponderance of the competent medical evidence did not support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, left knee and right knee impairments, and right shoulder impairment. The issues are related to exposure during his service in Iraq and Saudi Arabia due to Gulf War Syndrome.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of the Veteran's death and whether VA negligence in providing medical care contributed to his death. The appellant is seeking service connection for the cause of her husband’s death, which was caused by a combination of diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, and other conditions related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service treatment records and inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for a lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for stress urinary incontinence was reopened, and the claim is now granted. The rating for her back disability has been increased to 40 percent, effective from March 2013. The left knee issue and TDIU prior to September 4, 2019 are remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a back disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disability (to include depression and PTSD) have all been granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability was reopened and granted. The Board found that the Veteran had current degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine, which is related to his in-service injury.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for special monthly pension based on housebound status and need for aid and attendance due to lack of evidence showing he is unable to perform daily activities or requires regular assistance from another person.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection of psychiatric disability, erectile dysfunction, and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine as they have been fully granted by a prior rating decision.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 40 percent rating for his service-connected low back disability, finding that there was no improvement in his ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right and left upper extremities, as well as radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, were denied. The Veteran's service-connected low back disorder was also denied a higher rating.,The Veteran's service-connected conditions are currently rated at 10 percent each.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for kidney disability and bilateral pes planus of the feet have been dismissed. The remaining issues, including those related to gastrointestinal and respiratory disabilities, are remanded.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar strain is being remanded for further evaluation and potential rating adjustment.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his back disability was granted, and he is now receiving a 20% rating effective June 4, 2014. Separate ratings of 10% each were also granted for left and right lumbar radiculopathy.

The Veteran's service connection claims for tension headaches, low back condition, chronic right shoulder condition, bilateral big toe condition, and right ankle disability are all granted. The claim for asthma is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spine DDD prior to March 27, 2012 was denied. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.

The Veteran is granted a separate 10 percent disability rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy from April 4, 2013 to November 30, 2016. From December 1, 2016 onwards, the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back pain, chronic laryngitis, and obstructive sleep apnea. The appeals are remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining medical records and VA examinations.