Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, finding that it is related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is related to an in-service injury, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for unspecified depressive disorder, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, sciatic radicular pain, leg conditions, hip condition, low back pain, headaches, vision (claimed as bad eyes), and sarcoidosis have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The issues of service connection for a psychiatric disability and lumbar spine disability are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain and cervical disc disease, as well as his claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for MDD. The appeals are being returned to VA for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disability and lower back disability due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection.

Service connection is granted for low back and cervical spine conditions.,A 10 percent rating is granted for hypertension.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease. The Veteran's PTSD claim will be decided in a separate Board decision.,Service connection was not granted for the Veteran's erectile dysfunction as it is not related to his active duty service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for his right shoulder disability, finding that it was proximately caused by his service-connected left knee disability. The other two disabilities (right knee and lower back) were denied as not being related to the service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's kidney disease is granted as service connected. The lower back disorder is remanded for further examination and analysis.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding all listed conditions, effectively dismissing the cases.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is denied as there is no evidence of hearing loss for VA purposes during the appeal period.,The Veteran's sinusitis and allergic rhinitis claims are both denied as they do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and headaches have all been denied service connection. The flank scar associated with kidney cancer has an effective date of March 14, 2017.,An initial compensable rating for the flank scar is also denied.

The Veteran's back brace did not cause damage to his clothing, and thus he is denied a clothing allowance for the 2015 calendar year.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a back disability, atrial fibrillation, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete opinions and lack of consideration of certain evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability, including spinal stenosis, and related secondary disabilities (low back disability, myoclonus of the neck and shoulders, atrophy of the hands, urinary incontinence) are not service-connected. The case is being remanded for further development.

Service connection for fibrocystic breast disease is granted, and a rating of 50% disabling is assigned.,Service connection for lumbar spine disability and residuals of heat stroke are remanded due to lack of definitive evidence.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision, so the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for eczema was denied. The Veteran received a 40% rating for his lumbar spine condition, effective January 28, 2010. His claims for chronic sinusitis, radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, and total disability based on individual unemployability were all granted.

The appeal for service connection of a low back condition is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.