Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome as due to an undiagnosed illness was denied because there were no objective findings of the condition and it did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis.,Service connection for hypertension was also denied as there was no evidence showing that the condition manifested within the applicable presumptive period or during service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his chronic back pain is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and opinion regarding functional loss.

The Board has denied service connection for HSV infection, cervical spine condition, and lumbar spine condition as the evidence does not support a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee arthritis, right knee arthritis, chronic low back pain with degenerative changes, left calcaneal osteophytosis, and right calcaneal osteophytosis. The appeals were also denied for increased ratings in excess of 20 percent for chronic low back pain with degenerative changes and in excess of 10 percent for left and right calcaneal osteophytosis.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions.

The claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability has been reopened and granted.,The claim of entitlement to service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied service connection for low back disability, radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities as secondary to a low back disability, and patellofemoral pain syndrome of both knees. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete records, including missing STRs from his 1976 period of active service. The VA will need to obtain these records and provide an addendum regarding the etiology of the Veteran’s current bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings on several service-connected conditions has been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Board has denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for the right shoulder disability and has remanded the service connection claim for a lumbar spine disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current lumbosacral strain is related to his military service. Additional records and an opinion are needed.

The Board has determined that the VA examination provided was inadequate and requires a new one to address the etiology of the Veteran's back disability, including whether it is at least as likely as not caused by service-connected right knee disorder.

The Veteran's claims for neck, back, and right shoulder disorders have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims.,Service connection for bilateral hip disorders was also denied in a July 2015 rating decision.

The appeal to reopen service connection for PTSD was granted, along with other claims related to various disabilities. The effective date remains pending as it is not specified in the decision.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, and his lumbar spine disability rating is remanded for further examination. Service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to the service-connected lumbar spine condition is also remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal includes claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbosacral spine strain and adjustment disorder with anxiety. These issues are being remanded due to a lack of recent medical examinations.

The Veteran's low back DDD was granted a rating of 40 percent, but no higher, prior to March 3, 2009. From March 3, 2009 to November 16, 2011, the Veteran received a 40 percent rating for his low back DDD. Since July 17, 2015, he was denied any higher ratings. The left knee patellofemoral arthritis and right knee patellofemoral arthritis were granted separate ratings based on their specific manifestations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a back disability due to lack of in-service incurrence or evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a bilateral foot disability. The issues on appeal include service connection for bilateral hip osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis with degenerative disc disease and facet arthropathy, radiculopathy, and a bilateral foot disability.