Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of thoracolumbar strain, neuropathy of the great toes, and flat feet are denied. The Board has remanded the Veteran's service connection claims for a psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) and for flat feet.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The issue of a rating in excess of 20 percent for his lumbar spine DDD is being remanded.

The Board denied service connection for back disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder. The claim for flatfeet was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.,A rating higher than 30 percent for bronchial asthma is also denied.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, Parkinson’s disease, erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and buttocks are presumed to be associated with in-service Agent Orange exposure. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted as service connected due to chronicity in service. The left leg disability claim is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's service connection claim for a right knee disability, and also remanded his increased rating claims for cervical strain and lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's migraine headache disability is granted a 50 percent rating. The left knee arthritis and instability, as well as the lumbar spine disability, are remanded for further evaluation. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis is denied as it does not qualify as a compensable disability.,Service connection for lumbar sprain, bilateral knee disability, and obstructive sleep apnea is denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,The Veteran's claim for morbid obesity is denied because obesity is not considered a compensable disability under VA regulations.,Service connection for atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure is remanded as the relationship between current diagnoses and in-service chest pain needs further evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder and left eye disorder, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions had their onset during or are otherwise related to the Veteran's periods of active service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a Statement of the Case regarding his right shoulder tendonitis claim. The lumbosacral strain disability remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease at L2-L3 and L4-L5, severance of service connection for right ear hearing loss (previously rated as bilateral hearing loss), an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, increased rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for left ear hearing loss, and TDIU. The Board found that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and a rating for his back disorder, right knee disorder, TBI residuals, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbar spine disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's low back disability and left ear hearing loss do not meet the criteria for service connection. The right ankle disability is remanded to determine if it is related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee condition, lumbar DJD, right ankle osteoarthritis, and left ankle osteoarthritis have been granted as secondary to her bilateral calluses.,Service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder has not been established.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, and other conditions. The rating for the lumbar spine disability was reduced from 40 percent to 30 percent, but this reduction is being reviewed.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for left wrist and low back disabilities, but has remanded both issues due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims of increased evaluations for migraine headaches and lumbar degenerative disc disease have been remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis was not related to his military service. The Board also remanded issues regarding neck and low back conditions due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbosacral strain is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.