Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease resulting in current disabilities.

The Board granted a higher rating of 20 percent for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine from October 1, 2009 to August 15, 2017. The Board denied increased ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy throughout the appeal period.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain but remanded the issue of service connection for a right shoulder condition due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's back disability is not related to service.,The Veteran does not have a left upper extremity disability, and one is not proximately due to or aggravated by his right shoulder disability.,The Veteran does not have a neurological disorder (seizures disorder), and it is not related to service.,The pre-existing residuals of the Veteran's left varicocele were not aggravated by military service.,Service connection for all claimed conditions is denied.

The Board denied an effective date prior to January 23, 1998 for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran was found not to be unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected degenerative disc disease. Other claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disorder due to conflicting opinions on whether obesity is a substantial factor in causing his spine condition. The rating decisions for right and left knee disabilities remain unchanged.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection due to conflicting medical opinions and lack of clear evidence regarding his claimed conditions.

The Board has found that the Veteran's pending VA examinations for his service-connected right knee and back disabilities must be obtained before a final decision can be made on his increased rating claims.

The Board has remanded the cases of the Veteran's back condition and left big toe condition for further development, including obtaining a new VA examination to address the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's right hearing loss disability is not supported by the evidence of record.,There is no current diagnosis or treatment for a right hip disability, left hip disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, or cervical spine disability (degenerative disc disease).,The Board finds that service connection for these conditions cannot be granted as there is insufficient evidence to establish the presence of a current disability.

The Board has remanded the case to determine if a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) should be granted on an extraschedular basis prior to July 10, 2018 due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar and cervical spine disabilities have been rated at 40 percent since August 1, 2016. The Board has granted temporary total disability ratings for convalescence following specific surgeries on the lumbar and cervical spines.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, right hand disorder, left eye disorder, and Parkinson’s disease. The evidence did not establish that any of these conditions began during his military service or were related to an in-service injury.

The Board has determined that the evidence does not support service connection for a lumbar spine disability or psychiatric disability (PTSD). The Veteran's claims are being remanded to obtain additional development.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder, a sleep disorder, GERD, colon disorders, headache disorder, diabetes mellitus type II (DM), eye disorders, low back and neck disorders, erectile dysfunction, right and left carpal tunnel syndromes. The decision also denied reopening of the claim for hypertension.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that there is no evidence of its onset in service or within one year of discharge. The Board also found insufficient evidence to link the current spondylosis to his service-connected knee disability.

The Board denied restoration of service connection for cervical spine DDD, right and left upper extremity radiculopathy due to the finding that the current diagnoses are not related to service.

The Veteran's service connection for DJD of the lumbar spine is granted. An initial compensable rating for PFB prior to April 22, 2017, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter is denied.