Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly assess the Veteran's service-connected musculoskeletal and pulmonary conditions, including conducting new VA examinations to evaluate the severity of his lumbar spine strain, right shoulder degenerative joint disease, right knee chondromalacia patella, right ankle strain (status-post surgery), and pulmonary sarcoidosis.

The Board has remanded three issues related to service connection for the Veteran's back disability and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The remand requests new VA examinations to address the etiology of these conditions, particularly in relation to parachute jumps during service and presumed herbicide exposure.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right shoulder disability, and right knee disability. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is not related to his military service due to lack of continuity of symptomatology since service. His right shoulder disability was also not related to service as there is no evidence of in-service injury or treatment. For the right knee disability, the Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosed condition.,reasoning

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to an increased rating for lumbar strain and entitlement to TDIU due to inadequate assistance in obtaining relevant medical records, particularly those related to his back disability. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further proceedings.

The Veteran's application for a clothing allowance based on the use of a prosthetic device for 2013 is being remanded due to incomplete records and need for further development.

The Veteran's left lower extremity sciatica is granted as being proximately due to his service-connected lower back disability. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of the record.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, reopening a previously denied claim. The Veteran's current condition is found to be related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine, low back, and right hip disabilities. The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome of the left upper extremity was not granted as it is considered a separate issue.

The Veteran's lumbar sprain is rated at 20 percent, but not higher, effective October 3, 2019.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for low back and cervical spine disorders due to incomplete records and unclear opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine disability, headache disability, and blackout disability due to missing VA treatment records. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all available VA medical records from the Veteran's separation date through today and any private medical records that have not yet been associated with the file.

The Board denied a higher rating in excess of 40 percent for the Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine prior to September 22, 2015.

The Board denied service connection for the right wrist condition and granted a 40% rating for the lumbar spine disability, effective December 2, 2016. The claim for an increased rating for the lumbar spine disability was not fully resolved.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding that it had its onset in service and is related to continuous symptoms since service.

The Veteran's service-connected thoracolumbar degenerative joint disease and left ankle injury are rated at 10% and 20%, respectively, prior to September 18, 2019. After that date, the rating for back condition is increased to 20%. Service connection for hypertension was granted as secondary to service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities due to incomplete development. The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 10 percent, and no higher rating is warranted.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, right Achilles tendonitis, and chronic kidney disease. The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder was not incurred in or related to service due to post-service injuries. His right Achilles tendonitis is not related to service as there were no complaints or treatment records during service. His chronic kidney disease is unrelated to service as it is linked to hypertension, a nonservice-connected condition.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's hip, back, and neurological disabilities, as well as his acquired psychiatric and insomnia conditions. These issues are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, as he has the education, skills, work history, and vocational training to perform a wide variety of suitable work.