Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Veteran's low back disability, intervertebral disc syndrome and herniated disc, and obstructive sleep apnea are all found to be related to service. The bipolar disorder is also considered a progression of the previously diagnosed depression.,A rating higher than 70 percent for bipolar disorder (previously characterized as depression) is remanded due to outstanding records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for his service-connected conditions have been denied.,Specifically, the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for degenerative disc disease and disc bulge of the lumbar spine has not met the criteria for such an increase.,His claim for right lower extremity radiculopathy was also denied as it did not meet the required criteria for a higher rating.,The left lower extremity radiculopathy claim was similarly denied, with no higher rating being warranted.,Finally, his claim for vertigo was denied, and an earlier effective date prior to December 26, 2006, was also denied.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of various conditions, as all claims have been granted in prior rating decisions. The appeal for secondary service connection for diabetes mellitus is upheld.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee and spine conditions due to a lack of available service treatment records. The Veteran is requested to provide any additional relevant medical records, and he will be scheduled for VA examinations to assess his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including post-endometrial ablation, blood clots, vasovagal syncope, dizziness, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral elbow disability, and low back disability. The reasons include incomplete medical records and a need to determine if any current psychiatric disorder is related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back condition had its onset during his period of service from May 2004 to November 2005, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's low back disorder and bilateral tibia pain have been granted service connection.,A disability rating for the service-connected conditions will be determined upon remand.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further examination. The low back disability claim is being reviewed based on new treatment records, while the psychiatric disorder claim requires a VA opinion regarding its onset in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for radiculopathy in the right lower extremity and granted a 20% rating for lumbosacral strain. The Board found no current disability of radiculopathy in the right lower extremity, and thus denied service connection. For lumbosacral strain, the Board noted that the Veteran's symptoms more nearly approximated the severity level contemplated by the 20 percent rating criteria.

The Veteran's lumbar strain disability is now rated at 20 percent, effective from April 29, 2019. His left knee degenerative joint disease continues to be rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and requests for additional information. The Veteran was not granted any new ratings or effective dates.

The Veteran's spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional private treatment records and schedule a VA examination due to concerns about his ankylosing spondylitis.

The Board has dismissed the issue of service connection for a back disability and denied service connection for PTSD and a psychiatric disability, to include bipolar disorder.

The Veteran's service connection claims for ischemic heart disease, prostate cancer, low back disability with radiculopathy, testicular hypogonadism, and depressive disorder have been granted due to exposure to herbicide agents during his service at U-Tapao Royal Thai Air Force Base.,Service connection has also been denied for bilateral cataracts.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have not been found to meet the criteria for service connection as defined by VA regulations.,Service connection has been granted for tinnitus, but only if it is determined that the condition began during active duty or is related to such service.

The Board has found new and relevant evidence that may support the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder. The case is being remanded to allow the AOJ to conduct a de novo review of this issue.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for GERD, bilateral hearing loss, sinus disability, back disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to a lack of medical opinion regarding their etiology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability, finding no current diagnosis and insufficient evidence to establish a causal relationship between any current disability and service.

The Board has denied service connection for residuals of a lumbar spine disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The Veteran's conditions are not related to his active duty service.