Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a lower back disability, finding that there was no evidence to support an in-service injury or disease and insufficient medical evidence linking his current condition to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities due to outstanding private medical records and a need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent since July 8, 1975 and has been granted a temporary total rating for convalescence from April 2, 1975 to July 7, 1975. The extension of the temporary total rating from January 18, 1994 to March 31, 1994 is denied. A 40 percent rating is granted since February 26, 2013.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and right knee conditions are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a current disability.,The Veteran's low back condition is not service-connected as there is no medical evidence linking the condition to his military service.

The Veteran seeks an effective date prior to March 25, 2010 for the award of service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and related radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities.,The Board found that no new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim seeking entitlement to service connection for residuals of a back injury, including radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disability and left knee disability, both secondary to his service-connected right knee degenerative joint disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disability, low back disability, and migraine headaches due to lack of new and material evidence. The appeals were not reopened as there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims of increased rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, service connection for spinal stenosis, and service connection for retrolisthesis due to new evidence being added to the record.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected sinusitis with vasomotor rhinitis. The claim for an increased evaluation of lumbar degenerative disc disease is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder condition, left hand condition, lower back condition, bilateral foot condition, and acquired psychiatric condition (anxiety disorder).,Service connection was not granted as the preexisting conditions did not worsen during service or were not related to service.

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

The Veteran's low back strain is rated at 20 percent since November 18, 2014. The Board granted a TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD and low back strain.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea but has remanded the issue of service connection for back disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, back disability, and left knee disability have been reopened. The new evidence provided current diagnoses of these conditions, which were not present at the time of the previous denial.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was found to not warrant a rating in excess of 40 percent prior to August 24, 2017, and a rating in excess of 50 percent thereafter.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for a back disability, including as secondary to service-connected residuals of pilonidal cystectomy. The Veteran needs to be provided with a VA examination to evaluate his lay statements and medical records regarding the etiology of his low back disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbar spine disability, bilateral eye disability, and residuals of a traumatic brain injury due to new medical opinions being required.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral hearing loss due to new evidence received since previous decisions. The claims are being reviewed again as they may be substantiated.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examination and need for further development.

The Veteran's service connection for right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and low back disorder was granted effective January 28, 2009. The claim for a higher rating for the low back disorder is remanded.