Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease is being remanded for a new VA examination to reassess the severity of his condition and its impact on daily life.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of arthritis, lumbar spine condition, left knee condition, hypertension, blood disorder, and varicose veins have been withdrawn. The appeal for service connection for varicose veins has been remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his in-service injury and did not manifest within one year of separation.,The Board also denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, concluding that it was more likely due to an accident in 1999 rather than a service-connected injury.

The Board has dismissed all issues of service connection as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right little finger laceration is denied.,Service connection has been granted for right knee osteoarthritis, left hip osteoarthritis as secondary to right knee osteoarthritis, and low back strain as secondary to right knee osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's migraines do not result in characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in two months, thus denying an initial compensable rating.,There is no evidence of arthritis during service or within one year post-service, and the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that it began in service. The claim for arthritis is denied.,The Veteran has not been diagnosed with residuals of circumcision of the penis at any time relevant to this appeal. His reports of symptoms do not constitute evidence of a current disability, even if they are related to his service. The claim for residuals of circumcision of the penis is denied.,Coronary artery disease did not have its onset in service and is not otherwise related to service. The claim for coronary artery disease is denied.,A lumbar spine disability did not have its onset in service and is not otherwise related to service. The claim for a lumbar spine disability is denied.,Right ankle and right foot disabilities are not secondary to the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, as there is no evidence of such a relationship. The claims for these conditions are denied.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for overactive bladder was denied as new and material evidence had not been received.,The Veteran's application to reopen his previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disorder was granted. The claim is reopened, but the issue remains denied.,Service connection for right hip arthritis was denied due to lack of onset in service and no etiological relationship with service.,Service connection for a low back disorder (diagnosed as lumbar arthritis and lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome) was denied. The claim is reopened, but the issue remains denied.,The Veteran's application to reopen his previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for carcinoma of the larynx was remanded due to lack of evidence regarding in-service exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding his claimed conditions and exposure during service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability as secondary to her left hip disability.

The Board has decided that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's back condition had its onset during or was caused by his active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for his grants of service connection for lumbosacral strain and major depressive disorder, finding that the proper effective date is May 11, 2015.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before a decision was made, so the case is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence addressing the Veteran's claims for a back condition, specifically whether it is related to service. The AOJ must obtain and review all relevant records, including those from an in-service motor vehicle accident.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine is granted as service connected.,The Veteran's left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are secondary to his now service-connected degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine. ,The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure in service, and his erectile dysfunction is also service connected as it is secondary to his prostate cancer.,Service connection for a right knee disability and left knee disability are remanded.

The Veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine and associated radiculopathy have been rated at 10% prior to December 22, 2017, and at 40% thereafter. The claim for TDIU has been denied prior to December 22, 2017, but granted from that date.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder strain and lumbar strain due to inadequate VA examination. The examiner is asked to provide a supplemental opinion considering the Veteran's lay statements about his symptoms.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic low back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision found that the Veteran's current low back condition was not incurred in service due to lack of evidence supporting a nexus between his current DDD diagnosis and an in-service injury. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were granted based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for a lumbar spine disability secondary to service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability for the period prior to June 5, 2018 due to his service-connected disabilities. The issue of TDIU after June 5, 2018 is moot as he already has a combined schedular evaluation of 100%.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including new examinations and obtaining updated VA treatment records.