Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has denied service connection for a kidney condition due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service. The lower back, right knee, and left knee conditions are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate examinations and incomplete medical records. The Veteran's service-connected sinusitis, left knee condition, and back condition are all subject to review.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disability, hypertension, vision loss, and lower back disability due to the lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,VA also determined that the Veteran's income exceeded the maximum annual pension rate, thus denying his claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating for the left ankle disability and TDIU are remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes is rated at 40 percent effective June 2, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability is at least as likely as not related to service, and therefore grants service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with chronic mechanical low back syndrome.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were dismissed due to his requests for withdrawal of the claims.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his back disability and left knee disability. The claims are being returned to the RO for readjudication.

The Veteran's initial ratings for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine and thoracolumbar spine have been denied as they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's COPD has been granted an initial compensable rating, but GERD remains rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been granted service connection. The remaining issues have been remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development and consideration, including obtaining outstanding VA treatment records and determining if he meets the schedular criteria for TDIU prior to December 9, 2015.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inextricably intertwined issues and unresolved medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for his lumbar spine disability with degenerative disc disease, finding that it did not have its onset during active service and was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's petition to reopen service connection for right hip and lumbar spine disabilities was denied. The claims were reopened based on the submission of new and material evidence, but no service connection was granted as there is insufficient evidence linking current disabilities to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has decided to remand all issues on appeal due to the need for additional service treatment records and personnel records.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy, but the case is remanded for further examination and consideration of the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder was granted a disability evaluation of 40 percent from May 21, 2014 to January 15, 2015. The condition did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations during this period.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a low back disability, joint pain, Hepatitis C and an enlarged heart have all been denied.,Service connection was not granted as the evidence did not establish that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine conditions and erectile dysfunction have been denied as the evidence does not establish a direct relationship to service.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's current back disability is related to his service-connected right hip disorder, and thus grants service connection for the back disability as secondary.