Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, in aggregate, preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for tension headaches and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service.,Both conditions were found to have onset during or shortly after service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability but has remanded his bilateral hip disability claim due to conflicting medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability is at least as likely as not incurred during his active military service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's hypertension claim has not been reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.,Diabetes mellitus type 2 and genital herpes claims have both been denied as there is no service connection.

The Veteran's right knee disability, prior to February 1, 2015, was rated at 10 percent and from February 1, 2015, at 30 percent. The Veteran's lumbar strain was rated at 20 percent.,The Veteran's chronic bronchitis with asthma was remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral spine disability and bilateral lower extremity disability, including lumbar radiculopathy, to include as secondary to service-connected bilateral foot disability. The VA examinations were inadequate in addressing all of the requested information.

The Board denied service connection for a low back condition and granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claim for an increased rating for right lung tuberculoma was dismissed.,Service connection for the low back condition is not established as there is no evidence of chronic back pain or injury during service, and the current disability is more likely related to post-service employment duties.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a MRI of the lumbar spine. The issues of initial increased ratings for thoracolumbar strain (back disability) and entitlement to TDIU are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a right leg amputation and diabetes mellitus with peripheral neuropathy, result in loss of one lower extremity and associated functional impairment that precludes locomotion without assistive devices. The Board finds eligibility for specially adapted housing.

The Veteran's back disability, sleeping disorder, and headaches are service-connected as they are proximately due to or the result of his service-connected left knee disability.,Service connection for a back disability is granted based on aggravation by the service-connected left knee disability.,Service connection for a sleeping disorder is granted as it is proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability and associated pain medication.,Service connection for headaches is granted as they are proximately due to his service-connected tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and low back disability, both claimed as secondary to service-connected PTSD with panic/anxiety and depression or peripheral neuropathy.,No medical evidence supports a direct relationship between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbosacral spine DJD and DDD is being remanded due to the need for updated VA examination and additional treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to incomplete examinations, lack of adequate range of motion testing, and need for additional medical opinions. The issues include left and right foot disabilities, as well as increased evaluations for low back and right knee conditions.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, depression, and lumbar spine disorder have been granted. The claim for cervical spine disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50% from November 12, 2014 to August 25, 2015. The claim for service connection for Lumbar Spine DDD has been reopened and is currently pending.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that his disability was consistent with no higher than a 20 percent disabling rating.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection of back, right knee, and left knee disabilities. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent prior to November 28, 2012. The Board also granted TDIU based on the service-connected disabilities prior to that date.