Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disability due to new and material evidence. The issues of increased ratings for left knee degenerative arthritis and instability, as well as rating for left total knee replacement are remanded.

The Veteran seeks earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for PTSD, dyshidrotic eczema of the hands, and thoracolumbar spine strain. The Board finds that there is no probative evidence that the Veteran submitted any formal or informal communications with respect to these conditions prior to his October 2012 claim.,The effective dates assigned by VA are the earliest possible under applicable regulations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened and granted. The Board finds the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether his acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is etiologically related to his active service. Other claims are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for TDIU, increased evaluation of back disability, and increased evaluation of bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy due to lack of timely notice of disagreement (NOD).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbosacral strain is related to his military service, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU due to a lack of adequate consideration in previous decisions, particularly regarding the relationship between his current low back disability and an in-service motor vehicle accident. The claims are now before the RO for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's lower back condition, including missing STRs and medical records from his service. The Veteran will be provided with additional VA examinations to determine if his current back condition is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and right ankle open bimalleolar fracture were denied as there was no evidence to support a higher rating based on current symptomatology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability is related to service, and granted service connection. The claims for PTSD and low back disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's neck and left upper extremity radiculopathy disabilities are remanded for further evaluation due to recent assertions of increased severity.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for right knee instability is denied as the evidence does not more nearly approximate moderate recurrent instability or subluxation. The issue of entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disability is granted, subject to controlling regulations governing the payment of monetary awards.

The Veteran's spine and knee disabilities have not been evaluated since December 2015. The Board has ordered remand to obtain updated VA examinations for the spine and left knee, as well as any additional private care records.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative joint disease was granted a rating of 10 percent from November 16, 2008 to November 15, 2009.,From November 16, 2009, to December 27, 2015, the Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative joint disease was granted a rating of 40 percent. From December 28, 2015 onwards, it was granted a rating of 40 percent.,The Veteran's left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome was granted a rating of 10 percent from December 15, 2015 onwards.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied. The petition to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for chronic lumbosacral strain of L4-L5 (low back disability) is granted. Service connection for low back disability is remanded.

The appeal for service connection for hypertension has been dismissed. The appeals for service connection for osteoarthritis of the low back, a left hip condition (to include as secondary to service-connected degenerative arthritis of the right hip), bilateral hearing loss, and renal condition are all remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further evaluation due to insufficient recent medical records and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right shoulder conditions, as well as his right wrist tendonitis and bilateral plantar fasciitis with left heel spur, were all granted a 10 percent disability evaluation for the period from August 1, 2015 to January 19, 2016.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations, service connection, and other issues are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to re-open claims for service connection for low back disability, neck disability, bilateral knee disability, lumbar radiculopathy, and hypertension. The claims are remanded for additional development including examinations.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine disability, right foot disability, left foot disability, tinnitus, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist, and carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist. The preponderance of evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during service or were related to in-service injuries.,The Board found no medical evidence linking any current lumbar spine, foot, or wrist disabilities to service.