Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including osteoarthritis in multiple joints and other conditions.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining SSA records and VA examinations for various conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and rating increases has been remanded due to the need for further evaluation in several areas, including his right-hand disability and diverticulosis with history of gastroenteritis.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection for an eye condition, claimed as flash burn injuries to the eye. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a back condition are remanded.

The issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a back disorder, entitlement to service connection for sinus problems, entitlement to service connection for hypertension, entitlement to service connection for prostate cancer, entitlement to service connection for the residuals of a stroke, and entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss are dismissed.,The issues of entitlement to effective dates earlier than February 7, 2017 for the grants of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and the residuals of a TBI are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint and disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine is not rated higher than 20 percent, and his service-connected chronic adjustment disorder is not rated higher than 30 percent. The claims for increased ratings are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for higher disability ratings for his service-connected spinal stenosis with degenerative disc disease L4-L5 lumbar spine, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity are being remanded due to a lack of recent medical records and the need for further examination.

The Board has decided that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral foot disability, left hand disability, back disability, neck disability, bilateral leg disability, and gastrointestinal disorder. The case is being remanded to obtain National Guard service records.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examinations and a need for further development of medical evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease and a left hip condition with sciatic pain, finding that there was no evidence of such conditions during his active duty service or as a result of an in-service injury. The Board also found that the Veteran did not have any lung condition that could be linked to his military service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for lung condition were denied because he did not provide sufficient information about which specific lung condition he was seeking to connect to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a lower-back condition, left-knee condition, and scar on top of the head. The Veteran's current conditions are found to be aggravated in service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for unspecified depressive disorder was denied. The Board found no evidence indicating that the Veteran filed a claim prior to July 25, 2013, and thus could not assign an earlier effective date. For the TDIU issue, the Board determined that there was at least equipoise evidence showing that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to February 27, 2019.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left-ankle disability and a lower-back disability, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a back disability and denied his claim for service connection for tinnitus due to lack of new and material evidence, as well as insufficient evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating of 20 percent for his lumbar spine disability was denied by the Board. The evidence showed that the disability manifested with pain and stiffness, but without ankylosis or intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) episodes.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for a lumbar spine disability and an acquired psychiatric disability. The Veteran is also seeking a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim to reopen the cervical spine disability is denied. The lumbar spine and left wrist disabilities are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and grants service connection for it. The appeals regarding seizure disability and lumbar spine disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his service-connected right knee, bilateral pes planus, and lumbar spine strain disabilities are being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations and treatment records.