Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Veteran's cervical spine DDD with a herniated disc is found to have originated during service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including sleep apnea, hypothyroidism, ischemic heart disease, bilateral hearing loss, degenerative disc disease, tinnitus, and left-hand fracture, prevent him from securing or following any substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for eligibility for specially adapted housing due to service-connected disabilities was denied as he does not meet the regulatory requirement of a permanent and total service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeals to reopen claims of service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal. The Board also remanded several issues related to service connection.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease with degenerative joint disease at L5-S1, to include as secondary to service-connected bilateral knee disabilities should be remanded due to lack of proper notification and scheduling of a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for a back condition, finding that the evidence did not support a link to military service and concluding that the Veteran's current condition is more likely due to an in-service motor vehicle accident.

The Veteran's initial rating for lumbar strain remains at 10 percent, but the Board has ordered a new examination to assess the severity of his disability due to inadequate previous examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee, right knee, and back disabilities, as well as his service connection claims for bilateral hip disabilities. The AOJ is instructed to consider new evidence from VA examinations in April 2018 and February 2020, and obtain a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hip disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's thoracolumbar-sacral (TLS) disorder, finding that it is secondary to her service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis and arose during active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical and lumbar spine disorders due to her pes planus, as it is unclear whether hyper-pronation during her gait caused or aggravated these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for low back, cervical spine, and right knee disabilities. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and consider the Veteran's claims again.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for assignment of a TDIU, and his employment history does not reflect that he is unable to engage in substantially gainful employment as a result of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine and costochondritis are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.,An effective date of January 18, 2008 is granted for the grant of service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine and costochondritis.

Throughout the appeal period, the Veteran's GERD with esophageal stricture and eosinophilic esophagitis was rated at 10 percent. A separate 30 percent rating is now granted for the esophageal stricture.,The Veteran’s chronic lumbosacral strain remains rated at 10 percent throughout the appeal period.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and OSA, finding that the disorders are not related to active service. The Veteran's current conditions were attributed to intercurrent causes or post-service events.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to service-connected lumbosacral strain and GERD. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to assess his current disability levels without medication effects, and the AOJ should obtain any outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the cases due to outstanding VA medical records and for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and a skin condition of the bilateral lower extremities, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for fibromyalgia, bilateral shoulder disability, right wrist disability, and knee disabilities due to inadequate examination reports. The claims are also being remanded for additional examinations of his lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities.