Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for sacroiliac joint pain. The remaining issues of service connection for other back disorders, ankle, knee, hip, and neck conditions are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a need for an examination regarding the Veteran's low back disability and its relationship to his service-connected bilateral knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition did not manifest in service and is less likely than not related to his military service. Service connection was also denied for blindness.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic lumbar spine disorder, finding that the evidence does not show a diagnosis in service or within one year of discharge and the weight of the evidence is against a finding that a lumbar spine disorder has existed continuously since service.

The Veteran's left shoulder labral tear was rated at 10% prior to August 14, 2017 and at 20% from that date forward. The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was initially rated at 10% prior to August 14, 2017 and then denied for increased rating.,The Veteran's left shoulder labral tear is currently rated at 20%. His degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine remains rated at 10%.

The Board denied service connection for low back, left knee, right knee, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing the conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.,There is no medical evidence linking any current disability to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities combined to render him materially less capable of resisting his heart disease, which caused his death.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 20% prior to December 13, 2017 and at 40% thereafter. The ratings for right ankle tendonitis and left ankle tendonitis are denied. A TDIU was granted for the period before December 13, 2017.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service treatment records are incomplete and has ordered a remand to obtain additional VA medical records. The Board also ordered VA examinations to determine if the Veteran has each of his claimed disabilities, including whether any preexisting conditions were aggravated by service.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The right shoulder and back conditions are denied due to lack of evidence linking them to service.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the thoracic/lumbar spine and arthritis in multiple areas, including left buttock, left foot, right fingers, left fingers, right wrist, left thigh, and left forearm. The decision is based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected photodermatitis.

The Board has granted a 20 percent disability rating for the lumbothoracic spine disability starting from September 14, 2015. The Veteran's condition was previously rated at 10 percent before this date.

The Board dismissed the appeals for various conditions and issues as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The case is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathy, as well as his entitlement to TDIU. The issues are related and inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in the physical loss or permanent loss of use of one or both hands or feet, nor ankylosis of his knees or hips. Therefore, he does not qualify for eligibility for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or other conveyance and/or adaptive equipment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various spine and elbow conditions due to a request for a hearing, and because the case involves state service organizations.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for right lower extremity sciatica, left lower extremity sciatica, and chronic lumbar strain were denied. The claims for these conditions are based on their direct service connection without any presumption or secondary theory.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hemorrhoids was granted with a rating of 10 percent effective February 10, 2012. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar degenerative joint disease, arthritis in the left foot, osteoarthritis in the right knee, osteoarthritis in the left knee, osteoarthritis in the right hip, and osteoarthritis in the left hip. The decision was based on a finding that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's low back disability and several other conditions are denied service connection. The remaining claims for unspecified depressive disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sleep apnea, GERD, and erectile dysfunction are remanded.