Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grant due to lack of permanent and total disability ratings for service-connected conditions, specifically chronic bronchitis and COPD.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of surgical removal of a spinal cord tumor, including incomplete paraplegia of the lower extremities, finding that the current back disabilities are not related to service.

Service connection is granted for a neck condition. The Veteran's current disability is related to an in-service injury where he was struck by a car door frame.,Service connection is denied for heat intolerance. There is no evidence of a current diagnosis or functional impairment from symptoms of heat intolerance.

Service connection is granted for acquired psychiatric disorder (adjustment disorder with anxiety). Service connection is remanded for low back condition, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has ordered a remand for the VA to provide an addendum medical opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's current back disability, including whether it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including central disc bulging at L5-S1 and lumbar spine strain, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since July 13, 2016. The claim for TDIU prior to this date is being remanded for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating.,The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with IVDS was restored to a 40 percent rating effective May 27, 2015. The Board also remanded for further action on an increased rating claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete medical records and unclear scope of his claim. The Veteran is required to clarify which residuals from his in-service electrical shock injury he wishes to have service-connected, and VA will obtain relevant private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back condition due to insufficient evidence of an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, is reopened as new and material evidence has been received.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), PTSD, and low back disability due to unresolved issues.,Service connection was denied for TMJ joint dysfunction, left mandible, status post fracture.

The Board has granted service connection for a degenerative disc and degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine, finding that continuous post-service symptoms of arthritis since service are sufficient to establish presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability was denied. A 10 percent rating, but no higher, was granted for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity (sciatic nerve) effective October 15, 2015. The claim for a higher rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity (femoral nerve) was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disability, depressive disorder, back disability, bilateral hip and foot disabilities, and hernia (right inguinal) has been granted. However, the claims for sleep disorder secondary to a service-connected disability and for a rating in excess of 30 percent for right knee disability prior to July 2015, 2013 and after September 1, 2014 are remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disorder and degenerative osteoarthritis, lumbar spine. The cases are now remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule a VA examination.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for a thoracolumbar spine disability is denied, and the issue of evaluating his bilateral hearing loss disability is remanded due to lack of recent VA examination.

The Veteran's service connection for low back disability is granted. The Veteran's hearing loss rating remains at 20 percent, and the issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) is remanded.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection and increased rating as they have been granted by the RO.

The Veteran's loss of auricle claim was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,Service connection for lumbar strain with degenerative joint disease, dizziness, diverticulosis (secondary to service-connected IBS), deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism were all granted.,Compensation benefits due to receipt of drill pay during Fiscal Year 2013 were improperly reduced.

The Veteran's tinnitus and headaches were not shown to be related to service.,The Veteran's hypertension, erectile dysfunction, back condition, sleep disorder, neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and neuropathy of the left lower extremity have not been established as being related to service.