Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability, including spinal stenosis and degenerative disc disease, is related to an in-service fall from a tower. The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether this condition was caused by service.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and has remanded her knee claims due to insufficient evidence. The decision summary is that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating, while her knee claims are sent back for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for his lumbar disability is denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for left hand tremors is remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion.

The Board has granted readjudication of the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine condition and sleep apnea, finding new and relevant evidence. The claims are remanded for further examination to determine if these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete personnel records and inconsistencies in his statements regarding the onset of various conditions. The issues will be reconsidered after obtaining all available service records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, but the appeal is remanded for further examination and evaluation regarding a neurological disorder (to include Parkinson's disease), heart disability, chest disability, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and major depressive disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disorder, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease and right lumbar radiculopathy, is due to his military service. The claim for service connection was granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development, including failing to schedule a VA examination and obtain private treatment records. The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine strain with degenerative disc disease is being reviewed for an increased disability rating.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability from October 27, 2010 to January 28, 2016.,Beginning October 27, 2010, the Veteran is also granted special monthly compensation based on statutory housebound status.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back and left knee disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the etiology of these conditions. The case will be returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to deficiencies in a previous VA examination. The issues include increased ratings for lumbar myositis, discogenic disease, and radiculopathy of both lower extremities, as well as TDIU and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, neck, left knee, right knee, and right ankle disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or by reason of being housebound due to his service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not show that he required A&A or was permanently confined to his home.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and acquired psychiatric disability secondary to a spine disability. The issues are related to service connection based on aggravation of pre-existing conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for coronary artery disease and PTSD, as well as service connection for bilateral pes planus, were dismissed. The Board also remanded several other issues including hearing loss, sleep disorder, head condition, right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, chronic low back condition, right hip condition, left hip condition, right knee condition, and left knee condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical documentation and a need for a supplemental VA opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disability caused his obesity, which in turn may have contributed to his current low back disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for lumbar myofascial strain and right eye macular scar due to evidence of worsening since his last VA examinations. The Veteran is also encouraged to submit a formal application for service connection for secondary disabilities, such as headaches and anxiety.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, primarily his acquired psychiatric disorder and lower back disability, render him unemployable. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran’s current bilateral hearing loss is related to acoustic trauma experienced during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the effective date of his tinnitus service connection was not advanced as requested.