Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's tinnitus claim has been withdrawn.,His low back disability claim was reopened due to new evidence showing degenerative disc disease and arthritis. Service connection is granted for this condition.,Service connection is denied for a jaw disability, as there is no indication of an injury related to service.,Service connection is denied for bilateral knee disabilities, as the Veteran did not report any injuries during service that could be linked to his current conditions.

The Veteran's request to reopen claims for service connection of right ankle, left knee, and back disabilities is granted. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for back and neck disabilities due to new evidence and need for further medical examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine, cervical spondylosis, right shoulder osteoarthritis, bilateral radiculopathy, and right foot hammertoes, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability/IVDS, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to an in-service injury or disease. The Board also found that the Veteran's low back disability is not secondary to her service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for further evidentiary development due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran's service-connected pes planus is not found to be related to any of his claimed disabilities.

The claim to service connection for a cholesterol disability is dismissed. The claims to service connection for bilateral knee, gout, back, and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy disabilities are denied. Service connection for tinnitus is granted. Service connection for heart disability is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has remanded them due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions regarding his acquired psychiatric disorder, neck condition, residuals of chemical burns, left knee condition, and low back condition.

The Board denied service connection for posttraumatic headache disorder, left foot disorder, left ankle disorder, DJD of the right knee, DJD of the left knee, and lumbar spine disorder.,There is no evidence in the STRs or VA treatment records that supports a link between any of these conditions and active duty service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, anxiety and depression. The other claims of service connection are remanded.

The Veteran is currently in receipt of a 30% rating for her right shoulder disability, effective January 13, 2015. She contends that the shoulder disability increased in severity prior to this date.,The Veteran is currently in receipt of a 30% rating for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right hand, effective January 2, 2015. She contests the effective date.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the Veteran's claim for an initial (compensable) rating for right ear hearing loss disability. The claims for service connection for a left ankle disorder, Meniere's disease, and left ear hearing loss disability are remanded due to additional VA records needing to be obtained and further examination required. The claim for an increased rating for degenerative spondylosis of the thoracolumbar spine is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for DDD of the lumbar spine, but denied service connection for bilateral hip disorder and bilateral shoulder disorder as secondary to a back disorder.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted a 10% rating, but no higher. Service connection for bilateral flatfoot and low back disability are denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's disability rating for his degenerative disc disease and arthritis of the thoracic and lumbar spine should be increased, but requires a new VA examination to address the current severity of his service-connected back disability.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected disabilities, including depression and back pain. The Board has granted TDIU based on the impact of these conditions.

The Veteran's disability evaluation for a low back injury with recurrent mechanical lumbosacral strain was restored to 40 percent, effective May 1, 2015. The claim for an increased rating for the same condition was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a lower back condition and a right hip condition. Service connection is denied for an unspecified depressive disorder and feelings of guilt stemming from an in-service incident. The case is remanded to determine the nature and etiology of any current bilateral testicle conditions.