Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for right knee, low back, left ankle, and right ankle disorders due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's military service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for back and cervical spine disabilities, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's low back disability and right leg radiculopathy have been granted a 40 percent rating, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board denied service connection for left hand, right elbow, left wrist, and right wrist disorders, as well as lumbar spine and cervical spine disorders. The VA examiners found no evidence of these conditions in service or during the separation examination.,Service connection was not established because there is no medical evidence linking any current disabilities to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in the inability to dress or undress himself, keep himself clean and presentable, and require care on a regular basis due to his cognitive impairments. SMC based on need for regular A&A of another person is granted. The temporary total rating based on treatment for a service connected condition is denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus and degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine have been rated at 10 percent each, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The case has been remanded for further development to determine if a higher rating is warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder, but the claims for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease as well as left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for plantar fasciitis and sinusitis, as well as his request for an effective date of November 24, 2015, for the grant of service connection for a lumbosacral strain. The decision also denied his claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for a lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain, left knee strain, and right knee strain are all found to have been incurred in service. The Veteran's PTSD is also found to be related to an in-service personal assault.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities for which he is seeking service connection, and therefore, his claims are denied.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection on several conditions due to his withdrawal of those claims at a hearing.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease and migraines is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection of lumbar degenerative disc disease, bilateral pes planus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include depression, anxiety, and sleeping problems due to insufficient medical evidence. The claims are being returned for further development including VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability, claimed as a back condition, did not have its onset in service or within one year of service and is unrelated to active military service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of secondary service connection due to his service-connected bilateral ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease status post fusion with mild bilateral sciatic radiculopathy is remanded due to the inadequacy of a September 2018 VA examination report. A new examination must be conducted and a retrospective medical opinion provided.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional development due to the need for VA examinations to address the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, which was previously rated at 20 percent prior to July 30, 2018 and now rated at 40 percent thereafter, is granted. The Veteran also receives a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

Service connection is granted for coronary artery disease. Service connection is remanded for a back condition.

The application to reopen the claim for service connection for a low back disability is granted. The Veteran's claim is remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and treatment records.

The Board has determined that the July 2017 VA examination is inadequate and requires a new examination to determine the current nature and etiology of the Veteran's rhinitis, sinusitis, back, shoulder, knee, bilateral shin splits, and bilateral ankle disorders.