Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, fibromyalgia, chronic back disability, and OSA, were denied. The effective dates for the grants of service connection for these conditions remain pending.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for gout and arthritis of the knees, feet and low back, as well as bilateral hearing loss. The nonservice-connected pension claim is also remanded due to its inextricability with the other claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations. The lower back disability claim is being remanded because of an inadequate VA examination, while the psychiatric disorder and hearing loss claims are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for right leg hematoma, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability is rated at 40 percent, and his lumbar spine DDD and stenosis are granted. The Veteran also received a TDIU determination.

The Veteran's right eye cataract, left and right great toe degenerative changes, PTSD, lumbar strain, hypertension, hiatal hernia with reflux, and flat feet have been granted service connection. The Veteran is also awarded initial ratings for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back condition is related to his service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to her in-service motor vehicle accident, and for service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, and lumbar spine DJD. The claims are being returned to VA for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is granted. The Board finds that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran’s current sleep apnea began during active service and grants this claim. Other issues of service connection are remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, atypical depression NOS, GERD, menstrual disorder, lumbar spine disorder, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, bilateral hip disorder, and anemia have been granted. The claims were reopened due to new evidence related to a previously denied claim for PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection is granted for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, a headache disability (due to PTSD), diabetes mellitus, lumbar spine disability, sleep disability, prostate disability, and psychiatric disability other than PTSD.

The Veteran's back disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy (numbness of legs), and major depressive disorder are granted secondary service connection.,Service connection for fibromyalgia, neck disability, chronic fatigue syndrome, lipid disorder, sleep disorder, and headache disorder is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine is dismissed.,The earlier effective date claim for service connection for a residual painful scar, status post appendectomy, is denied.

The claim for service connection of a low back disability is reopened, and the claims for small bowel obstructions rating increase and TDIU are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability and denied increased ratings for left shoulder strain, lumbar spine disability, lumbar radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, right knee instability, and right knee limitation of extension. The Veteran's current disabilities are currently rated based on their severity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back condition and sleep apnea due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The VA denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding that the evidence did not support forward flexion to 30 degrees or less, ankylosis, or incapacitating episodes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hand injury, degenerative arthritis of the hands, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee and hip conditions due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for a headache disorder, eye disorder, schizoid personality disorder, low back disorder, arthritis of the left foot, arthritis of the right foot, and cervical disorder have been denied as new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen these claims.,The Veteran's claims for a headache disorder, eye disorder, schizoid personality disorder, low back disorder, arthritis of the left foot, arthritis of the right foot, and cervical disorder have been denied as new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen these claims.,The Veteran's claims for a headache disorder, eye disorder, schizoid personality disorder, low back disorder, arthritis of the left foot, arthritis of the right foot, and cervical disorder have been denied as new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen these claims.,The Veteran's claims for a headache disorder, eye disorder, schizoid personality disorder, low back disorder, arthritis of the left foot, arthritis of the right foot, and cervical disorder have been denied as new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen these claims.,The Veteran's claims for a headache disorder, eye disorder, schizoid personality disorder, low back disorder, arthritis of the left foot, arthritis of the right foot, and cervical disorder have been denied as new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen these claims.,The Veteran's claims for a headache disorder, eye disorder, schizoid personality disorder, low back disorder, arthritis of the left foot, arthritis of the right foot, and cervical disorder have been denied as new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen these claims.,The Veteran's claims for a headache disorder, eye disorder, schizoid personality disorder, low back disorder, arthritis of the left foot, arthritis of the right foot, and cervical disorder have been denied as new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen these claims.