Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar strain, right knee chondromalacia patella, and left knee chondromalacia patella as the VA examinations did not comply with previous remand instructions. The AOJ is instructed to obtain updated medical records and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases due to conflicting medical evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed back and bilateral foot disabilities, as well as their relationship to service. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back disability, cervical spine disability, coronary artery disease, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to a lack of service treatment records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions based on his military service in South Korea.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's low back disability, including any degenerative arthritis. The examiner is asked to address whether there is radiculopathy related to the lumbar spine disability and determine if it is due to a cervical spine disorder instead. Additionally, the examiner should evaluate whether the service-connected low back syndrome caused or aggravated any other lumbar spine disorders (other than low back syndrome).

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The TBI claim was denied as the evidence did not show total impairment, and separate psychiatric diagnoses of PTSD and major depressive disorder were found to be related to his panic disorder without agoraphobia.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was not found to warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to September 30, 2019 and in excess of 20 percent starting on that date. The Board denied higher ratings for the right shoulder and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded as the evidence shows he can only work for four hours at a time due to his service-connected low back disability, which impacts his ability to perform sedentary and physical activities of employment.

The Veteran's claims of increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis of the spine, right knee disability, and left knee disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The other issues have been remanded.

The Veteran's initial claim for service-connected DDD of the lumbar spine was granted, and a 10% rating was assigned from September 13, 2010. The Veteran also received separate ratings for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, with a 10% rating initially assigned to each condition starting November 20, 2012. Both initial ratings were later increased to 20% from March 5, 2015.

The Veteran's back disability is not service-connected. The right hand and left hand deformities are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for a bilateral knee condition and hypertension was granted. The RO denied the reopened claim for hearing loss, asthma, lumbar degenerative disc disease, right ankle disability, bilateral foot disability, OSA, and hypertension on the merits.,The Board remanded the reopened issue of service connection for a bilateral knee condition.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for a back disability, including as due to a gunshot wound to the lower back. The VA examiner's opinion is inadequate and an additional remand is required.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to re-open claims for service connection for post-operative knee conditions, right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, and lower back condition. The claim for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder is also remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and need for a new VA examination.

The Board has reopened the appellant's previously denied claim of service connection for a low back disability, but has denied the underlying claim on the merits.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination regarding the Veteran's left knee condition. The claims of service connection for lumbar spine and right knee conditions have been denied as new and material evidence was not received.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a back disability. The Veteran's claim is now remanded for further examination and consideration.

The petition to reopen the claims for service connection for a back disability and right eye disability is granted. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, left and right lower extremity radiculopathies are all granted. The evidence shows the Veteran's current disabilities are proximately due to his bilateral knee disabilities.