Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, migraine headaches, sleep apnea, tinnitus, cervical spine injury, lumbar spine condition, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, heart condition, prostate condition, left foot condition, right foot condition, and seizure disorder. The Veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected right hip, knee, and low back disabilities have been granted increased ratings. The right hip disability is rated at 50% from December 1, 2015 onwards; the right knee disability is rated at 30%, 40%, and 20% from May 14, 2014 through July 7, 2016, respectively; and the low back disability is rated at 40% since May 14, 2014. The Veteran's TDIU claim has also been granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for a lumbar spine disability and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine arachnoiditis as secondary to his service-connected lipomatosis was granted. The claims for compensable evaluations for right and left hand disabilities were denied.

The Veteran's PTSD, bipolar disorder, depressive disorder, and other specific trauma and stressor-related disorder are granted. Service connection is also established for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, right leg disability, cellulitis, telangiectasia, photoaging, sebaceous hyperplasia, actinic keratosis, and herpes. An effective date earlier than July 22, 2015 for left lower leg laceration with infection and drainage is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for back, left hip, right arm, and right wrist disabilities have been granted. The Board found that the evidence was in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's left total knee replacement and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine have been rated, but further examination is needed to determine appropriate disability ratings.,The Veteran's low back disability requires additional evaluation due to recent remand.

The Veteran's low back disability was not shown to be incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board denied the claim as there is no evidence of a related disease or injury in service, and no competent evidence suggesting a current low back disability might be related to service.

The Board has found sufficient lay and medical evidence to suggest that the Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities may have prevented him from being capable of obtaining and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation post-separation. The issue is remanded for referral to the Director of the Compensation Service for adjudication.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence received and the need for a VA examination to address service connection for the lumbar spine disability, including as secondary to the service-connected coccidioidomycosis. The temporary total rating issue is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability has been reopened, and the Board finds additional development is necessary to determine if any such condition existed in service or is related to service. The appeal of entitlement to burial benefits and death pension will be remanded as well.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding that the evidence does not support a causal relationship between the Veteran's cervical spine condition and his service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple conditions has been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and examinations.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine (lower back) disability and a left knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus between these disabilities and active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further examination and medical guidance to determine if his bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy is related to his service-connected low back disability, and to evaluate the severity of his service-connected lumbar strain.

The Veteran's lower back disorder has been service-connected, but he is seeking an increased evaluation. The RO has requested additional medical evidence and scheduled a VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Board has remanded several claims, including those for service connection and reopening of claims for various conditions. The specific issues are related to whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of service connection for psychiatric disorder, back disorder, stomach disorder, hypertension, sleep apnea (secondary to a psychiatric disorder), erectile dysfunction (secondary to a psychiatric disorder), cervical spine disorder, headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist, and seizure disorder (secondary to a psychiatric disorder).

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including upper and lower back disability, neck disability, left leg disability, right leg disability, bilateral eye disability, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Barrett's esophagus, coronary artery disease, aortic aneurysm, prostate cancer, and thyroid disability. The Board found no current diagnoses for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been reopened and granted.,Service connection is established for tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure.,Service connection is remanded for a left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, back disability, bilateral hearing loss, respiratory condition (asthma), gastrointestinal disability (GERD, hiatal hernia, and Barrett’s disease), prostate disability, and skin disability (chloracne).,The Veteran's service-connected PTSD may be related to his hypertension.,The Veteran's current prostate disability is remanded for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a lower back condition. The Veteran's lower back condition is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its etiology. Other claims are also remanded as there may be changes in medical circumstances affecting their adjudication.