Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder. The Veteran's current conditions are considered to be directly related to his military service.,There is no evidence of any in-service injury or disease that would support the claim of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease was granted a disability rating of 40 percent, effective from December 10, 2007, until March 19, 2015.

The Veteran's hearing loss, left ear is granted service connection. The earlier effective date for lumbar spine disability claim is denied. A rating of 40 percent for Raynaud’s disease is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim of service connection for a back condition is granted. The Board has remanded several issues related to his knee disabilities and lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is rated at 40 percent, effective December 1, 2016.,The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 40 percent, effective December 1, 2016. Her right lower extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for back condition and HIV due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran needs to be provided with VA medical examinations to determine if his conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings and an earlier effective date for service-connected conditions related to his back disability were denied.,Specifically, the Veteran was not granted a rating in excess of 40 percent for his back disability, separate ratings above 10 percent for neurological abnormalities of the right lower extremity, or an effective date prior to September 24, 2010.

The Board dismissed all the claims due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a back disability and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities to include blood clots have been denied as there is no evidence that these conditions were caused or aggravated by VA care in October 1998.,The claim to reopen the service connection for seizure disorder (now claimed as blackouts) has also been denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for increased ratings and an effective date prior to May 31, 2011 for sciatica of the left lower extremity. The reduction in rating for DDD of the lumbar spine from 20% to 10% was granted. Claims for higher ratings for various knee disabilities are also addressed.

The Board dismissed the appeals for increased initial evaluations of PTSD with adjustment disorder unspecific and lumbar and coccyx IVDS, as well as the claim to reopen service connection for hearing loss. The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding these issues.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a back condition is reopened, and the case is remanded to obtain missing medical records and provide a new VA opinion.

The Board has ordered a remand for the Veteran to be examined and for additional development regarding his claim of service connection for a low back disorder. The examination should determine if any diagnosed low back disorders are related to his military service, whether they were caused by or aggravated by his service-connected piriformis syndrome of the left leg, and provide a rationale for these opinions.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and review, including service connection claims for various conditions. The initial compensable rating claim for GERD was denied as the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased rating claims have been withdrawn. The Board dismissed the appeals due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his claims.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine, left knee, right knee, OSA, tension headaches, respiratory disorder, and CFS. The Board found no in-service incurrence or nexus to service for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostatectomy, migraine condition, lower back condition, resection of the colon, and sleep apnea, have rendered him unable to secure or follow gainful employment. The Board finds a need for further evaluation due to the passage of time since his last examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right wrist disability and low back disability due to outstanding treatment medical records not in evidence. The Veteran needs to provide private treatment records, and VA examinations should be obtained.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right leg disability (shin splints) and a lumbar spine disability, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.,Service connection was not granted as the preponderance of the evidence did not establish that the shin splints were caused by the service-connected right ankle disability.