Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for a back disorder, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disability. The appeal regarding an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a left knee disability and entitlement to service connection for a right foot disorder are being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, bilateral knee disorder, and bilateral ankle disorder are being remanded due to incomplete service records and need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for various conditions, including a back condition, bilateral feet issues, OSA, varicose veins, eczema, and generalized anxiety disorder.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for low back strain with degenerative changes and bicipital tendonitis of the right shoulder with degenerative joint disease. The case is being remanded due to an inability to contact the Veteran for VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for low back, right hip, right knee, and right ankle disabilities due to outstanding questions regarding diagnoses, functional impairment, and nexus.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and service connection have been dismissed as she has withdrawn her claims.

The Veteran's PTSD rating is denied for a period prior to August 24, 2016. The case is remanded for further development regarding his bilateral hearing loss and thoracolumbar spine disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and private medical records of chiropractic care. The Veteran's low back disability will be evaluated again by an orthopedic examiner.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is related to service and has been granted.

The Veteran's claims for annual clothing allowances were denied as there was no evidence that any of his claimed appliances or medications caused wear and tear to his clothing in the 2012 calendar year.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his functional impairment from service-connected disabilities between March 1, 2008 and June 22, 2011. The case will be referred to the Director, Compensation Service, for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is related to her active duty service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back disorder, bilateral ear disorder (claimed as eustachian tube dysfunction), and sinus disorder due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance as defined by VA regulations. The Board has determined that a new examination is needed to determine if his service-connected conditions require the assistance of another person.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is currently rated at 10 percent, which is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Veteran's allergic rhinitis has also been denied due to lack of evidence meeting the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for his low back disability and entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The remand requires additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an examination to evaluate the severity of the low back disability.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected, and he is also granted a temporary total evaluation for hospital treatment due to his PTSD. The issues of increased ratings for lumbar strain with muscle spasms and adjustment disorder with depressed mood are remanded, and the issue of TDIU is inextricably intertwined with these other claims.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine was denied, and the effective date is set at July 14, 2015.

Service connection was denied for a back condition and left knee strain. The Veteran's STRs documented complaints, treatments, and diagnoses related to these conditions, but the VA examiners found that the current conditions are not etiologically related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is at least as likely as not related to his service, and thus grants service connection for low back pain.