Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back pain is service-connected, as it was incurred during his active duty in Iraq.

The Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for low back pain was granted. The claims for increased ratings of left and right wrist disabilities were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, concluding that there is no indication that a pulmonary embolism was related to active service or that any of the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities were a contributory cause of death.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims due to insufficient medical records, and requests for additional information have not been completed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic lumbar strain and multilevel cervical degenerative disk disease with chronic neck strain require additional development due to the need for a more detailed opinion regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's asthma, lumbar strain, chronic sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis have been granted service connection. The Veteran is now entitled to a 40% rating for his lumbar strain, a 30% rating for his chronic sinusitis, and a 10% rating for his allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's left-knee disorder is granted a 10 percent rating, effective July 1, 2011. Service connection for lumbar spine disorder and PFB are denied.

The Veteran's petition to reconsider the claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability is granted. The appeal is granted to this extent only, and the case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD and lumbar spine disorder) render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a lumbar disorder and sleep disorder, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for lumbar strain and bilateral plantar fasciitis were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's low back disability, left lumbar radiculopathy, and bilateral plantar fasciitis with bilateral plantar spurs and left calcaneal bursitis have been granted initial ratings of 20 percent. The Veteran's overactive bladder has been granted an initial rating of 40 percent.

The claim for service connection of a back disorder is reopened and remanded due to the submission of new evidence that relates the Veteran's current condition to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for degenerative disc disease at L5-S1 with scoliosis deformity, bilateral pes planus, and PTSD has been granted. The Veteran is now receiving the maximum available rating of 20 percent for his service-connected degenerative disc disease at L5-S1 with scoliosis deformity. His bilateral pes planus is rated as 20 percent disabling since October 15, 2010, and he received a temporary evaluation of 100 percent from October 15, 2010 to December 31, 2010 due to surgical treatment. The Veteran's PTSD has been granted at the maximum available rating of 70 percent since July 5, 2016.

The Veteran's initial rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine is being remanded due to insufficient recent medical evidence and a need for a new VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher levels of special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(o) and 38 C.F.R. § 3.350(f)(3), finding that he did not meet the criteria for these rates based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the issue of service connection for kidney cancer. The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted from October 20, 2014. The issues of service connection for bladder cancer, hand tremors, lumbar spine disability, coronary artery disease, and left ear hearing loss are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the cervical and lumbar spine due to insufficient evidence from a previous VA examination, including lack of recent treatment records and an updated clinical evaluation.

The Board has denied service connection for depression with anxiety, and has remanded the issues of service connection for a back disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and right shoulder conditions, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the original claim of a low back condition and concluding that there is no current diagnosis or functional impairment related to a right shoulder condition.