Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied due to insufficient evidence of a medical nexus between her military service and her current condition.,Service connection for a low back condition was also denied as there is no sufficient evidence linking the Veteran’s current condition to her time in service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, a back disorder, and a left ankle disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a secondary relationship between the claimed conditions and the service-connected disability of left knee total arthroplasty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a lower back disability as secondary to his right knee condition and for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy due to his lower back disability.

The Board has remanded three issues: service connection for erectile dysfunction, service connection for a low back disability, and service connection for a left ankle disability. The Veteran is required to undergo new examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and a higher initial rating for migraine headaches have been dismissed.,The claim for TDIU has also been dismissed as moot due to the Veteran's receipt of a total schedular rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a respiratory/lung disability, bilateral ankle strains, and lumbar spine strain was denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for various knee disabilities, depression, and radiculopathy due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than March 18, 2009 for the award of service connection and a separate disability rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy is denied. The claim for an effective date earlier than February 11, 2014 for the award of service connection for tension headaches is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple issues has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of the appeal by his representative.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding service connection for GERD and an increased rating for lumbar spine disability.

Service connection is denied for DDD of the lumbar spine, left hip disorder, right hip disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left foot disorder, and right foot disorder.,Service connection is denied for tinnitus, COPD, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability was denied. Prior to March 6, 2019, the disability rating remained at 10 percent. On and after March 6, 2019, a higher rating of 20 percent was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for his back disability and back surgical scar, finding that neither claim was filed within a year of the original intent to file or receipt of an application.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, degenerative arthritis of the knees, and other specified depressive disorder have all been denied as not related to service or otherwise supported by evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service parachute jumps and resulting back pain.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the new evidence received after prior final denials supports these claims.,Service connection is denied for a back disorder and secondary service connection for hypertension due to lack of in-service injury or disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding that there was insufficient evidence to support his claims or that the conditions did not meet the criteria for the requested ratings.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 40 percent for chronic low back strain (claimed as back injury/condition) and a 30 percent rating for COPD and asthma have been granted. The claims for radiculopathy, depressive disorder, and service connection for headaches are also granted. However, the TDIU claim prior to October 14, 2010 is denied.

The Board denied service connection for cirrhosis of the liver, low back disability, and tingling in the feet as there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service connection could not be established because the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis or chronic condition during service or within one year after discharge.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disorders, which may be related to his in-service injury.