Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and nephrolithiasis (kidney stones) as there was no evidence of current disabilities or that they were incurred in service.,There is no medical evidence showing the Veteran had any current conditions related to his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for sleep apnea secondary to major depressive disorder is granted. The claim for increased rating of lumbar disc degeneration and major depressive disorder remains pending.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to missing service treatment records and incomplete medical evidence. The Veteran's back disability is being reviewed for possible service connection.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen service connection for low back and left knee disabilities is granted. The appeals to reopen service connection for right great toe disability, left shoulder disability, left hand disability, neck disability, and hearing loss are also granted. However, the claims of service connection for these conditions remain remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to his request for a DRO hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence on the issues of service connection for lumbar spine condition and bilateral knee condition, as well as entitlement to a compensable rating for cervical spine scar.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for right ankle disability, service connection for low back disability, and service connection for bilateral lower radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for earlier effective dates for service connection of various conditions. The claim to reopen a previously denied back disorder is remanded and requires further examination.

The Board dismissed the appeals for rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar strain and lumbar vertebral disc disease, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and unspecified depressive disorder prior to December 10, 2015.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability due to new evidence submitted. However, the claim is still remanded as the VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of the condition was inadequate.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, left knee DJD, and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome due to incomplete examinations in the prior remand.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient evidence regarding his cervical spine disability and diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, sleep apnea, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome were denied. The Board found that there was no in-service injury or event to link these conditions to service.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, bilateral knee disability, and HIV due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the appellant's active military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for thoracolumbar spine disorder and cervical spine DJD were denied. The rating for thoracolumbar spine disorder remains at 10 percent, while the rating for cervical spine DJD is also at 20 percent.

The Veteran's claims for lethargy, CFS, acid reflux disease, and left hip strain are denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during service or related to his Crohn’s disease.,Back disability, depression, and deterioration of the teeth remain in dispute and need further examination.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to June 11, 2018 due to his service-connected cardiac disability preventing him from maintaining substantially gainful employment as a barber.

The Veteran was found unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected lumbosacral strain, which rendered him unemployable prior to September 6, 2016. The Board granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis from June 2008.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.