Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder impingement, rotator cuff tear, acromioclavicular degenerative joint disease with partial tear, and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease. The conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disability, finding no current evidence of such a condition.,Service connection was also denied for a lumbar spine disability. The Board noted the Veteran's STRs showed lower back pain during active duty but did not find any nexus to his current condition.,Regarding left foot toenails fungus, service connection was denied as there is no direct link to service-connected residuals of frostbite and it was determined that the fungus developed decades after the frostbite resolved.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a pending issue regarding the character of discharge during the Appellant's period of active duty from December 1968 to March 1972. The outcome of this issue could significantly impact the results of the remaining claims.

The Board has determined that the June 2019 rating decision denying service connection for cold injury residuals and low back disability is flawed due to an incorrect evidentiary standard. The claims are being remanded for reconsideration using a more liberalized evidentiary standard.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for childhood onset fluency disorder is granted.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disorder is granted.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine degenerative arthritis with disc disease and strain is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board found that his condition does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's back condition and his service-connected bilateral foot condition, as well as the need for an additional VA examination.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection due to lack of any justiciable case or controversy. The Veteran was granted SMC based on his need for regular aid and attendance due to TBI.

The Veteran's deviated septum disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,There is insufficient evidence to establish service connection for his low back disability, left foot drop disability, or right lower extremity sciatica.,VA has remanded the case due to inadequate examination in assessing the severity of the Veteran's left ankle disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings in all four issues related to cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, right elbow, and left knee conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to a lack of notification regarding a scheduled VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's back disability. The claim for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding his right knee disability, hearing loss, tinnitus, back disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, and hypertension.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues of service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented her from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, to include as secondary to left knee instability, has been reopened. The Board also granted an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for both left knee flexion and left knee instability. However, the claims are being remanded due to procedural defects.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for left elbow epicondylitis and impairment of forearm as due to left elbow epicondylitis have been dismissed.,The Veteran's low back strain has been denied with a 10% rating prior to July 20, 2016 and a 20% rating from that date. The Veteran's tension headaches claim has also been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's residuals of herniated disk of the lumbar spine, including degenerative disk disease and lower left extremity radiculopathy, finding that these conditions are due to his in-service heavy lifting.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an adequate examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine condition due to inconsistencies within the February 2017 VA medical examination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of a left ankle sprain, lumbar degenerative arthritis and lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome are granted.,The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is denied.,The Veteran's service connection claim for Lyme disease is denied.,The Veteran's service connection claim for a left calf disability is denied.,The Veteran's service connection claim for acne is denied.