Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings and service connection for PTSD, lumbar spine disorder, left foot disorder, and hemorrhoids is denied. The Board finds that a higher rating of 70 percent is warranted for PTSD prior to February 28, 2020, but not from that date forward. Service connection for the lumbar spine and left foot disorders are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions. Service connection for hemorrhoids is also remanded as there was no clarification on its onset during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination reports regarding the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on his daily functioning. The Veteran needs an addendum opinion from a physician to determine if he is substantially confined or requires regular aid and attendance.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral shoulder disabilities, internal bleeding, and radiculopathy of the right side. The cervical spine disability was not granted due to lack of evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in the VA examiner's opinions regarding the Veteran's cervical spine disability and its relationship to service. The claims file should be returned for further development, including obtaining an adequate etiological opinion that considers the Veteran's lay statements about symptoms prior to his 1987 post-service work-related injury.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of left foot, left hand, and back conditions are remanded due to the need for VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for his low back disability, finding that there was no evidence of a direct relationship to service or secondary aggravation by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The osteochondral defect of the right ankle is rated at its maximum schedular rating, while the degenerative changes of the lumbar spine are not entitled to higher ratings under either the General Rating Formula or the Formula for Rating IVDS Based on Incapacitating Episodes.

The Board denied service connection for a lower back disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition did not begin during his honorable period of active duty and there was no causal relationship to in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, hypertension, and other conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence or clarification. The effective dates for some of his service-connected disabilities remain unresolved.

The Board has granted an initial 100 percent rating for PTSD prior to August 29, 2019 and has also granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability.

The Board has granted service connection for low back and neck disabilities, attributing the diagnoses to the cumulative impact of parachute jumps during military service.

The Board has withdrawn the Veteran's appeals for service connection of right and left knee disabilities due to his oral withdrawal during a personal hearing. The low back disability appeal is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various conditions, including back disability, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, bilateral plantar fasciitis and flatfeet, and allergic rhinitis were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10 percent, and a separate rating of 10 percent for the varus deformity of his right knee is granted. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent from October 8, 2019.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, bladder impairment, and radiculopathy. The main reasons for remand include obtaining clarification of private opinions regarding the severity of the lumbar spine disability, scheduling a new VA examination to assess the extent of functional loss during flare-ups or after repetitive use, and determining whether the Veteran’s lay reports of

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional development and readjudication due to new VA records being added to the file.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues (back disability, left knee and right shoulder disabilities, bilateral foot disorder, and headaches) are remanded due to insufficient evidence or need for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional examinations and evaluations to determine the severity of his thoracolumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and bilateral pes planus. The claims are also remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for a parathyroid disability, kidney disability, and degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, and bilateral knees. The Veteran's parathyroid disability is not related to his service or asbestos exposure.,The Veteran’s kidney disability was also not found to be related to his service or asbestos exposure.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including lumbar spine disorder, left varicocele, right varicocele, neuropathy of the lower and upper extremities, and knee disorders. The decision also noted that a right ankle disorder was not shown.