Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, gout, and a back condition are all granted. However, the claim for gout is denied as there is no evidence of current disability during the appeal period.

The Veteran's low back disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy are rated based on their current manifestations. Service connection for a neck disability, which is claimed as secondary to the service-connected low back disability, is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for GERD aggravated by PTSD and denied service connection for IBS, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and bilateral knee disability.

The Veteran's arachnoid brain cyst, headaches, jaw disability, myofascial pain, and thoracolumbar spine disability (including osteopenia) are all granted.,Service connection for a right hand disability (claimed as carpal tunnel syndrome or Raynaud’s syndrome) is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further development.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 60 percent effective March 14, 2019. He also received separate ratings for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities associated with his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disorder is related to his service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, lumbosacral strain, and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to new evidence showing potential worsening of his conditions. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a back disability was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disorder and a lumbar disorder, as well as his request for an increased disability rating for his unspecified depressive disorder. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for annual clothing allowances due to lack of evidence showing that any brace worn or used because of her service-connected disabilities tended to wear or tear her clothing, or that she wore a knee brace for a service-connected disability in 2015.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than anxiety disorder, to include PTSD is dismissed.,Service connection for anxiety disorder has been granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of his lumbar spine disability, finding no nexus between his current condition and his time in active service or to his service-connected left foot disability.

The Veteran's left eye disability is not service-connected.,For the period beginning January 31, 2005 to September 2, 2010, a 20 percent rating for gout was granted. Beginning September 2, 2010, no higher rating is warranted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, and hypertension have been denied.,However, the claim for service connection of a skin condition (pseudofolliculitis barbae) has been reopened due to new evidence.

The Veteran's low back disability has been rated at 40 percent since October 14, 2014. Prior to that date, the disability was rated as 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, particularly those related to parachute landings in service.

The Board has denied service connection for a left shoulder condition, low back disability, and right hand condition due to the preponderance of evidence not supporting their onset or relation to service.,Service connection was not granted as there is no direct link between the Veteran's current conditions and his period of active duty.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for lumbar back strain and bilateral plantar fasciitis was denied. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.