Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine and a right shoulder strain with internal derangement were denied as there was no evidence to support higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have service-connected residuals of ruptured ear drum, neuropathy of the upper extremities, or a lumbar spine disorder. The claims for these conditions are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine stenosis, sleep apnea, bilateral lumbar radiculopathy (claimed as bilateral lower extremity numbness), acquired psychiatric disorder, and headaches, all secondary to his service-connected left and right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's death was caused by a myocardial infarction, which the Board finds is at least as likely as not due to his service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities.,The Veteran meets the criteria for a TDIU from May 2, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's low back disability is related to his service-connected left leg disabilities. The examiner needs to provide a more detailed and reasoned opinion on this issue.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for service connection of right foot disorder, left foot disorder, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, and bilateral hip disorder need further development due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for right knee, left knee, and lumbar spine disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing the conditions were incurred in or related to service.,Service records did not document any injuries or diseases involving the Veteran's knees or lower back during his active duty. The Veteran reported he did not seek treatment at the time because he needed to continue working on an aircraft carrier.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, neck disorder, and back disorder as secondary to his service-connected endolymphatic hydrops due to lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to his service-connected condition.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues related to cervical spine, lumbar spine, ulnar nerve compression, lateral femoral cutaneous nerve impairment of the left lower extremity, and right knee disabilities. The appeal for service connection for a right ankle disorder was also withdrawn.

The Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection are being reopened, and the cases of his respiratory disability, back disability, and tingling of feet due to frostbite are being remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for TDIU on an extra-schedular basis, effective December 2, 2013. The decision is based on the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities rendering him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back condition, tinnitus (ringing ear), left hand condition, and right hand condition due to a lack of VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disability, finding no evidence to support that his current condition was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's lumbar strain disability is being remanded for further examination and rating. Other service connection claims are also being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions. The issues include sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, bronchitis, lumbar spine disability, bilateral hip disability, hypertension, loss of use of both hands, and left ankle tibial nerve neuritis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating determinations due to inadequate medical opinions provided in prior VA examinations. The issues include lumbar spine, cervical spine, right hip, left hip, and right knee disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate development, and a new VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's back disability is related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected mood disorder and sinusitis with headaches. The Veteran's lumbar spine strain with arthritis was restored from a 20 percent rating to a 10 percent rating effective November 28, 2016.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 40 percent from September 27, 2019. The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding ratings prior to that date.,Prior to January 22, 2016, there was no diagnosis of radiculopathy in either lower extremity. Therefore, separate disability ratings are not available for this period.,From January 22, 2016, the Veteran is rated at 20 percent for both right and left lower extremity radiculopathy.,The case has been remanded to obtain a retrospective opinion regarding the severity of the back disability from May 16, 2010 to August 4, 2016.