Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's thoracolumbar degenerative arthritis, intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), spondylolisthesis, and scoliosis, left knee degenerative arthritis, right knee degenerative arthritis, and right hip degenerative arthritis are all found to be secondary to the service-connected right fibula disability. The Veteran's right fibula disability is currently rated at 10%.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc and joint disease, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic lower spine disorder in service or within one year after separation from service. The Board also found that the current back problems are not related to the in-service thoracic muscle strain injury.

The Board granted service connection for a lower back disability and remanded the TDIU claim. The decision is remanded because notification to the attorney was not provided, and the SSOC addressing the TDIU claim was sent to an incorrect address.

The Veteran's right shoulder, right hand, and low back disorders are granted service connection as they are related to his military service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted due to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a right knee disability, a left knee disability, and a low back disability have been reopened. However, the evidence does not support these claims.,A VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran has any current disabilities of his knees or back, and whether they are related to service.

The Board denied service connection for stenosis of the lumbar spine, osteoarthritis of the left patellofemoral joint, right knee disability, cardiomyopathy, and bilateral hearing loss. The decision found that these conditions did not begin during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cause of death, finding that his death was not related to any service-connected disabilities or service events.

The Board has granted service connection for low back, right knee, left knee, and right ankle disabilities. The case is remanded to consider a higher rating for the Veteran's mental health disability.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability was denied. The appeal to reopen this claim is denied. Service connection for unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress, secondary to migraine headaches, is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, and thus service connection for this condition is denied. The claims for coronary artery disease, blood clots, thoracolumbar spine disorders, oral disorders involving the maxilla, sleeping disorders, and tinnitus are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various disabilities, including right shoulder, left shoulder, back, and right leg disabilities. The reasons are that VA was unable to obtain missing service medical and personnel records from the Adjutant General's Office and private treatment records from Florida General Medicine.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence, including missing medical records from various facilities.

The Board has found that a VA examination is needed for the disabilities to properly adjudicate the issues on appeal, including service connection for various conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral pes planus and low back disability are granted. The claim for a higher rating for vulvovaginitis is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the veteran's current conditions are related to his periods of active duty training (ACDUTRA) or inactive duty training (INACDUTRA).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure or maintain gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board has determined that there is sufficient evidence to grant service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding it likely related to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine are currently rated at 20 percent, but do not meet criteria for a higher rating as there is no evidence of ankylosis or limitation of motion to 30 degrees or less.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus and a back condition due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.