Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cold injuries to his upper and lower extremities, as well as chloracne. The effective dates for the grant of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral femoral nerve have been granted.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for Crohn's disease, ankylosing spondylosis of the cervical spine, and ankylosing spondylosis of the thoracolumbar spine, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder as secondary to left hip degenerative joint disease, finding that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether the low back disorder was caused by the service-connected left hip disability.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further evaluation due to insufficient evidence, including a lack of recent VA treatment records and an outdated VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for lumbar degenerative joint disease and bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar strain, urinary incontinence with retention associated with lumbar strain, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy associated with lumbar strain is granted effective November 29, 2005.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for headaches was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because there is no current disability meeting VA compensation criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a lumbosacral spine disability and right knee internal derangement, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to April 19, 2018.,The Board has determined that the issue of entitlement to a disability rating greater than 40 percent for a lumbosacral spine disability is being remanded due to insufficient medical nexus opinions regarding its etiology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability, including as due to a service-connected bilateral knee disability. The evidence did not support the Veteran's assertions that his current lumbosacral spine disability was related to active service or any incident of service, including as due to a service-connected bilateral knee disability.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral pes planus, but has remanded the issues of service connection for low back disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and hallux valgus and hallux rigidus of the right foot due to conflicting evidence about their onset in or attributable to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back condition is not causally or etiologically related to his military service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The issues of service connection for low back strain, joint pain, bilateral chronic knee problems, and mild renal disease are dismissed as moot due to the grant of service connection for joint pain in a previous decision.,Service connection for irritable bowel syndrome is denied because there was no pending claim prior to May 20, 2016.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for a 40 percent rating for lumbar spondylosis is dismissed. The Board also granted the Veteran a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence and a need for further examination. The back disability claim is being reviewed, as are the secondary foot numbness and tingling claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the threshold requirements for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from April 7, 2010 to July 22, 2016. The Board found that the Veteran is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss disability and right knee disability, but granted service connection for low back disability. The claims of entitlement to recognition of A.F. as a helpless child based on permanent incapacity for self-support prior to attaining the age of 18 are also remanded.,The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for lung disability and an acquired psychiatric disability, as well as service connection for heart disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were remanded. The Board found that the Veteran should be granted a rating of 40 percent from August 30, 2010, for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and a rating of 40 percent from June 25, 2015, for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity. The Board also found that service connection should be granted for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee, head injury, and back conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been granted, including right and left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, a psychiatric disorder (PTSD, panic disorder, depressive disorder), lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, headache disorder, right foot plantar fasciitis, and left foot plantar fasciitis. The Veteran's claims for service connection for left eye pterygium have been denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for IBS, fibromyalgia, a low back disability, and an upper gastrointestinal disorder due to inadequate opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's in-service sexual assault and gastroenteritis.