Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The issues of entitlement to service connection for low back disability, headaches (including as secondary to service-connected disability), and residuals of right ureteral lithotomy are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for osteopenia of the right shoulder, left wrist disability (including osteopenia and strain), osteoarthritis of the right knee, and a back disability. The evidence supports these determinations as there are medical opinions linking each condition to an in-service injury or incident.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and an upper back disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's active service.,Health care benefits were also denied for both conditions under Chapter 17 of Title 38 U.S.C.

The Board denied service connection for low back condition, left knee condition, right foot plantar fasciitis, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as they were not shown to be related to the Veteran's military service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's left ankle condition was not manifested by pain or marked limited motion prior to March 19, 2015. From that date forward, the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.,For the period from May 10, 2011 to December 24, 2013, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or maintain a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition, finding that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation of his back disability.

The Board has denied service connection for mitral valve prolapse (MVP) due to lack of evidence showing it was incurred or aggravated by service. The cases of lumbosacral strain and left elbow tendinitis are remanded for new VA examinations, and the TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disorder, nasal disorder, and right eye disorder due to inadequate VA examinations. The issues must be remanded for additional examination and opinion.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that there is no link between his current disability and his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further evaluation of his lumbar spine and hip disabilities due to deficiencies in the examination reports. The Veteran will need to undergo additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 20 percent since January 22, 2018. The appeal for a higher rating prior to this date is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee, low back, shoulder, and left calf disabilities have been denied as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,His claim for migraine headaches has also been denied due to a lack of credible evidence showing that the condition was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability and lumbar strain were not incurred or aggravated during active service, and the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.,For right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, the Veteran’s current condition is manifested by limited flexion but greater than 45 degrees. The issue of an initial rating in excess of 10 percent was denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability. The claims for service connection for low back, right knee, left knee, bilateral foot pain, and allergic rhinitis are being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a relationship between his current condition and any in-service injury or event. The Board also noted that the disability did not manifest within a presumptive period.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right and left ankle disorders, lumbar spine disorder, sciatica, knee disorders, and headache disorder (migraines) due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is asked to provide information about any relevant VA or private treatment.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and remanded several other issues including ear hearing loss, neck, upper back, lower back, bilateral knee, ankle arthritis, foot/toe disabilities, vertigo, Meniere's syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea (secondary to PTSD), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions due to incomplete development and procedural issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee degenerative joint disease. The Board found that there was no causal relationship between the Veteran’s current back disability and his military service, nor could it be linked to his service-connected left knee disability.