Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, back disability (claimed as lumbar strain), and tinnitus. The evidence did not establish that any of these conditions began during active service or were otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis of the spine should be remanded due to inadequate medical opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the issues of initial rating disability rating greater than 20 percent for a lumbar spine condition, service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition (to include PTSD), and service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's back disorder is related to service. The examiner needs to address if there was a superimposed injury during service and if his current conditions are related to military service.

The Board has denied service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability and remanded the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD). The case is being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction for further action.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic thoracolumbar strain was denied due to lack of in-service event or medical evidence linking the condition.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted, and he is awarded a rating of 40 percent for his degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine. The appeal concerning entitlement to an effective date prior to April 10, 2003 for the grant of service connection for the lumbar spine disability is dismissed.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary for additional development due to the Veteran's testimony regarding worsening of his back condition and the need for a new VA examination. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the spine disability claim.

The Board has remanded two issues: service connection for a skin rash to the genital region and an initial, compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's cervical spine disability is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's GERD is related to his service-connected back disability, specifically the Motrin he was prescribed in 1998.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and evaluation of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including erectile dysfunction, prostate cancer, and low back disability. The issues are inextricably intertwined with the increased level of special monthly compensation issue.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine was denied in July 2015. The effective date is set at July 23, 2015.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, effective October 15, 2018. His PTSD with major depressive disorder is rated as total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for updated VA examinations and a review of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hip disabilities, lower extremity radiculopathy, low back disability, bilateral knee disabilities, ankle disability, and bilateral hearing loss/tinnitus. The Veteran is not entitled to TDIU at this time as more current evidence is needed.

The Veteran has withdrawn all issues on appeal, including the ratings for Traumatic Brain Injury and Tension Headaches, as well as service connection claims for Acid Reflux and Low Back Disorder.

The Veteran's disability ratings for radiculopathy of the left and right femoral nerves have been restored to 20 percent effective March 1, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability has been reopened, but the evidence does not establish that her current condition is related to her military service.,Her claim for service connection for a heart disorder has been reopened and is granted. The Board found new evidence showing she currently suffers from coronary artery disease post-CABG surgery.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a hysterectomy was denied as there was no evidence linking the condition to her military service.,Her claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened and is granted. The Board found new evidence showing she currently suffers from major depressive disorder.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep condition has not been substantiated, as there is no evidence that the current condition began during her military service or is related to any in-service injury.

The Veteran's neck condition and OSA are granted service connection, while the respiratory condition is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal for high cholesterol was dismissed. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support a finding that his low back, left wrist, right wrist, right leg, left leg, or hypertension disabilities began during service or were otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,For all other issues, the Veteran's appeals for low back disability, left wrist disability, right wrist disability, right leg disability, and left leg disability were denied. The Board concluded that there was no evidence of a chronic condition in service, no established continuity of symptomatology since service, and no causal relationship between any current disabilities and an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable as his education, training, and work history allow for employment despite his conditions.