Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The claim for direct service connection of a back disability is granted. Other claims are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran should be afforded a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of his claimed back disorder. The issues of service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disability, a right knee disability, a left knee disability, a right ankle disability, and a temporary total rating for left knee replacement were remanded by the Board in February 2017.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back disability with bulging disc and deteriorating spine, including as secondary to his service-connected right tibia pain. The VA examiner found that the Veteran’s current lower back disability is not causally related to his military service or his service-connected right leg pain.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including degenerative disc disease with right foraminal stenosis, is granted as service connected.,Right sciatica neuropathy is granted as secondary to the Veteran’s service-connected low back disability.,Migraine headaches are granted as service connected.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease is being remanded for a new VA examination to reassess the severity of his condition and its impact on daily life.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of arthritis, lumbar spine condition, left knee condition, hypertension, blood disorder, and varicose veins have been withdrawn. The appeal for service connection for varicose veins has been remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his in-service injury and did not manifest within one year of separation.,The Board also denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, concluding that it was more likely due to an accident in 1999 rather than a service-connected injury.

The Board has dismissed all issues of service connection as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right little finger laceration is denied.,Service connection has been granted for right knee osteoarthritis, left hip osteoarthritis as secondary to right knee osteoarthritis, and low back strain as secondary to right knee osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's migraines do not result in characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in two months, thus denying an initial compensable rating.,There is no evidence of arthritis during service or within one year post-service, and the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that it began in service. The claim for arthritis is denied.,The Veteran has not been diagnosed with residuals of circumcision of the penis at any time relevant to this appeal. His reports of symptoms do not constitute evidence of a current disability, even if they are related to his service. The claim for residuals of circumcision of the penis is denied.,Coronary artery disease did not have its onset in service and is not otherwise related to service. The claim for coronary artery disease is denied.,A lumbar spine disability did not have its onset in service and is not otherwise related to service. The claim for a lumbar spine disability is denied.,Right ankle and right foot disabilities are not secondary to the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, as there is no evidence of such a relationship. The claims for these conditions are denied.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for overactive bladder was denied as new and material evidence had not been received.,The Veteran's application to reopen his previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disorder was granted. The claim is reopened, but the issue remains denied.,Service connection for right hip arthritis was denied due to lack of onset in service and no etiological relationship with service.,Service connection for a low back disorder (diagnosed as lumbar arthritis and lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome) was denied. The claim is reopened, but the issue remains denied.,The Veteran's application to reopen his previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for carcinoma of the larynx was remanded due to lack of evidence regarding in-service exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding his claimed conditions and exposure during service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability as secondary to her left hip disability.

The Board has decided that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's back condition had its onset during or was caused by his active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for his grants of service connection for lumbosacral strain and major depressive disorder, finding that the proper effective date is May 11, 2015.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before a decision was made, so the case is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence addressing the Veteran's claims for a back condition, specifically whether it is related to service. The AOJ must obtain and review all relevant records, including those from an in-service motor vehicle accident.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine is granted as service connected.,The Veteran's left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are secondary to his now service-connected degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine. ,The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure in service, and his erectile dysfunction is also service connected as it is secondary to his prostate cancer.,Service connection for a right knee disability and left knee disability are remanded.

The Veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine and associated radiculopathy have been rated at 10% prior to December 22, 2017, and at 40% thereafter. The claim for TDIU has been denied prior to December 22, 2017, but granted from that date.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder strain and lumbar strain due to inadequate VA examination. The examiner is asked to provide a supplemental opinion considering the Veteran's lay statements about his symptoms.