Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome and chronic low back pain, but remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.,A VA examination is required to clarify the diagnosis of the Veteran’s low back condition, and an addendum opinion is needed to address whether his intravertebral disc syndrome is related to service.

The application to reopen the claim for service connection for DDD (claimed as back pain) is denied.,The application to reopen the claim for service connection for Bell's palsy is granted. Service connection for a headache disorder secondary to service-connected hypertension and depressive disorder is also granted.

The Board has denied service connection for a low back disorder and remanded the issue of entitlement to a compensable disability rating for intermittent right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The appeal to reopen service connection for a low back disability, numbness and swelling of the feet, throat cancer, sleep disorder (to include insomnia), head injury, and seizure disorder is granted. Service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than February 17, 2005, for the award of a 10 percent rating for service-connected arthritis of the lumbar spine is denied. The issues of increased ratings for bilateral knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for back, neck, left hip, right hip, sleep disorder, and anxiety and depression disabilities as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability was denied as no new and material evidence had been submitted.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) is granted, with the condition being related to military service.,Service connection for rheumatoid arthritis is denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service.,Service connection for a low back disability is denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.,Service connection for a right shoulder disability is denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.,Service connection for a skin disability is denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.,Service connection for liver disease is denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.,Service connection for sleep apnea is denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating of 50 percent for migraine headaches is granted. The claims for service connection for sarcoidosis and psychiatric disorders (including schizophrenia and PTSD) are reopened, but the service connection for low back disorder, left hip disorder, and right hip disorder is denied.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability and a back disability, finding that the current diagnoses are not related to active service or service-connected conditions.,Service connection was also denied for other disabilities including hypertension, heart disorder, psychiatric disorders, insomnia, migraine headaches, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected, but his bilateral hearing loss and respiratory condition are denied.,His low back condition remains in dispute due to the need for further evidence and examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence, as no evidence was provided linking his current condition to his time in service.

The Board denied increased disability ratings for the Veteran's service-connected low back strain and radiculopathy of both lower extremities, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective July 1, 2014. All other claims on appeal are dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals for these issues in statements made at his September 2018 Board hearing.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for low back pain with spondylolisthesis has been reopened, but the case is remanded due to a need for further examination and opinion regarding her current conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and associated radiculopathies require further review, including a remand for additional examination and rating determinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical evidence and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected DJD of the lumbar spine is rated at 20 percent, which is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability and radiculopathy of the upper extremities have not met the criteria for higher ratings, with some issues remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance was granted effective January 2, 2017. The Board denied an earlier effective date due to lack of formal or informal claims prior to March 24, 2015.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right shoulder DJD and lumbar spine disorder due to insufficient medical opinions.