Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The claim for service connection for a back condition has been reopened and granted. The claim for service connection for bilateral knee osteoarthritis is still pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions and additional development is required.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left shoulder issue and low back pain due to a lack of VA examination.,VA is required to schedule the Veteran for an appropriate VA examination in order to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's back disability is granted service connection. The PTSD rating is granted at 70% prior to December 11, 2016 and denied for any higher ratings.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, hypertension, and bilateral leg disability. The Veteran's low back condition is not related to his military service, while his hypertension and sleep apnea are related.,The Board granted service connection for hypertension and sleep apnea, both of which are related to the Veteran's active service.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability, low back disability, bilateral knee disability, and eye disability (including cataracts, glaucoma, and dry eye syndrome).,Service connection was also denied for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities.

The Veteran's increased ratings for lumbar fusion L4-L5 and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity have been denied.,For the lumbar spine, the criteria for a higher rating are not met as the flexion is greater than 30 degrees but not more than 60 degrees.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to lack of substantial compliance with previous directives.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a back disability due to insufficient development and an inadequate opinion from the VA examiner. The case will be returned for further examination and analysis.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluation of PTSD, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, lower back disability, and bladder cancer have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for lumbar spine disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disorder and erectile dysfunction due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his lumbar spine disability and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional medical records, including from private providers. The VA examination is also needed to assess the current severity of the service-connected condition.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 10 percent prior to July 2, 2010 and has not met the criteria for higher ratings.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and development of Social Security Administration records.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in the August 2013 VA examination report and an inadequate statement of reasons for not granting a higher rating during the period when the Veteran experienced increased limitation of range of motion.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with insomnia is rated at 70 percent since December 22, 2010. The Board also granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder secondary to his left knee disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, malignant glomus tumor, hypertension, and a low back disability have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the previously denied claims.,Entitlement to increased ratings for PTSD, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, ischemic heart disease, and pulmonary disability is also denied.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for increased ratings for migraine headaches and chronic lumbar strain with degenerative changes.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).