Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for a back disorder, characterized as a slipped disc, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to an in-service injury and resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, finding that the evidence does not support a link between the current condition and active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The Veteran's service connection claim will be reconsidered after obtaining additional medical records, clarifying his dates of service, and conducting a VA examination.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability of depressive disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected back disability. Service connection for hypertension is denied. The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease is granted a 50% rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied, and no effective date earlier than August 6, 2013 has been granted.

The Veteran's initial compensable ratings for bilateral bunions and left ear hearing loss have been denied. The VA has ordered remand for further examinations to assess the severity of his hemorrhoids, right knee strain, cervical spine disability, and thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for insomnia has been dismissed because he withdrew his claim. The appeal for service connection for low back pain is being remanded due to outstanding private treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, finding that the current condition is not related to active duty service. The preponderance of evidence supports this conclusion based on VA medical opinions and lack of documented treatment post-service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, right ankle disorder, right foot disorder, multiple body trauma, peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, hearing loss, tinnitus, sleep disorder, and anxiety disorder. The evidence submitted did not provide new or material information to support these claims.

The Veteran's lumbar strain with myositis is rated at 40 percent, the highest possible rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.

The Veteran's hypertension has been denied a compensable rating. The remaining claims for service connection are remanded due to incomplete records.

The Board has remanded the issues of increased ratings for the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right lower extremity radiculopathy, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), left sciatic nerve dysfunction, and degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine with IVDS. The effective date for any award is not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU prior to August 14, 2018. The Board found that his service-connected conditions alone did not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment during the period on appeal.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the current condition is not related to an in-service injury or disease and is not shown to be caused by a service-connected left knee scar.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability (lumbosacral strain) as the evidence did not show it was related to active military service.

Service connection is granted for Degenerative Disc Disease and Herniated Disc of the Lumbar Spine.,Service connection is denied for Arthritis of the Left Wrist.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability and associated lower extremity conditions render him housebound, meeting the criteria for SMC based on housebound status.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, and he is now entitled to a rating of 60% for his heart disability. The issues regarding prostate disability and TDIU prior to December 3, 2014 are also resolved in his favor.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, back disorder, and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's applications to reopen claims for service connection for a lung condition, thoracolumbar spine degenerative changes with spondylosis (upper and lower back), a mental condition to include depression, and dental surgery due to lack of new and material evidence.