Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has denied service connection for left and right knee disorders, low back disorder, right hip disorder, left ankle disorder, and right ankle disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition is remanded due to the need for an addendum medical opinion.

The Board denied service connection for low back, right knee, and trouble seeing disabilities. The issue of bilateral foot disability is remanded.,Service connection was not granted for left knee disability due to lack of nexus.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, sleep apnea, and a psychiatric disorder as these conditions were not shown to be causally related to military service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for low back disability, left leg disability, heart disorder, right finger disability, big toe disability, GSW residuals, left thumb disability, and nose disability. The remand also includes requests for additional VA treatment records, Workers' Compensation records, and updated employment information.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back condition and denied service connection for upper respiratory disability (claimed as sinusitis). Service connection is granted for the low back condition due to in-service injury. The claim for sinusitis was denied because the VA examiner found no evidence of chronic sinus problems during or one year after service.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms cause moderate occupational and social impairment, but do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran has been diagnosed with hemochromatosis, which may be related to his service-connected liver injury. Additional medical records are needed to determine if this condition is service connected.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, low back, left ankle, hemorrhoids, and left knee disabilities are denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is remanded.

The Veteran's application to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for a right ankle disability is granted. The claims for sleep apnea and lower back, right knee, and left knee disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's initial ratings for his service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome with spondylolisthesis of lumbar spine and left lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for further evidence and examination.

The Board has remanded the case to consider service connection for a low back disability secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left great toe and foot disabilities. The appeal is not about service connection at all, so no specific rating or effective date applies.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have not been found to be related to his active service.,There is no evidence of an acquired psychiatric disorder during or within one year after service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a head injury, including cognitive disorder NOS and headaches, is granted. An effective date of April 28, 2011, is assigned for the award of service connection for low back disability.

The Board has granted service connection for mechanical low back pain with degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to his in-service injury and continuous post-service symptoms. The claim is based on direct service connection rather than a presumption or secondary theory.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease and arthritis, as well as thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease and arthritis. The Veteran's current conditions are related to in-service injuries.

An initial 40 percent rating for lumbar degenerative disc disease, bilateral lower lumbar facet osteoarthritis, degenerative joint disease and lumbosacral strain myositis is granted effective February 10, 2005.,The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated as initially 30 percent disabling effective February 10, 2005. It is then increased to 70 percent effective March 20, 2007 and to 100 percent effective April 9, 2018.,Special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound level is granted effective November 1, 2005.,The Veteran's claim for SMC based on need for aid and attendance (A&A) is remanded. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient rationale provided by the VA examiner and lack of clarification on whether the Veteran’s back symptoms are caused by his diagnosed conditions or a motor vehicle accident. The claims for bilateral pes planus, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss also require additional examination.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for his lumbosacral strain and entitlement to TDIU have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increased rating or TDIU based on service-connected disabilities alone.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various ankle, knee, thoracic spine, lumbar spine, and sinus disorders have been denied. The Board found no current diagnoses or chronic disabilities related to the claimed conditions.

The Board has granted an initial 10 percent rating for hypertension, but the claims for higher ratings for lumbar spine strain with degenerative joint disease, tension headaches, and primary insomnia are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.