Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a low back disability and a headache disorder as aggravated by service-connected tinnitus due to inadequate reasoning in previous decisions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, chronic neck condition, chronic back condition, right hip condition, right foot condition, and left foot condition. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective May 27, 2015 due to his service-connected disabilities resulting in severe physical limitations.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a new VA peripheral nerves examination to address the etiology and severity of his claimed cervical radiculopathy.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, as he was employed in various positions such as taxi driver, custodian, and video production. His back disability limited his ability to work but he maintained employment until November 2017 when he became disabled due to diabetes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lower/middle back disorder and left knee disorder due to potential service connection issues. The Veteran is also being asked to provide updated treatment records.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations of record are inadequate and do not comply with prior remand directives. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for low back strain, right knee degenerative joint disease, and left knee degenerative joint disease are being remanded to obtain new examinations.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for low back disability due to insufficient evidence and a need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hepatitis C, lichen simplex chronicus and prurigo nodularis associated with hepatitis C, mild spondylosis of the lumbar spine, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral) associated with mild spondylosis of the lumbar spine due to new evidence received since the last decision.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine arthritis, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by an in-service injury and that the condition began during active service.

The Board has remanded this claim due to an inadequate April 2017 VA examination, which did not assess the degree of additional range of motion lost due to pain on use or during flare-ups. A new examination is needed.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, claimed as secondary to service-connected chronic right meralgia paresthetica.,The Board also denied service connection for a back disability, including as secondary to service-connected chronic right meralgia paresthetica and a claimed right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back, right knee, left knee, sinus, and sleep apnea conditions due to insufficient medical evidence. The Veteran's statements about his symptoms are considered credible.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, including those from Community Care Consult, Pathways Acupuncture, The Core Institute, and fee outpatient records. Additional examinations are needed to assess the full range of motion for the Veteran's left knee and thoracolumbar spine.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral wrist disabilities, low back condition, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for mild patellofemoral degenerative joint disease of the right knee. The Veteran's current ratings are based on symptomatic residuals from semilunar cartilage removal performed during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow any substantially gainful employment since March 1, 2016.

The Board denied service connection for the residuals of lacerations to the left little finger, right index and ring fingers, and a jammed right thumb. The Veteran did not have any chronic disabilities related to these injuries during or after service.,Service connection was also denied for a low back disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and sinus/allergic disorder. There is no evidence of such conditions until many years after the Veteran's separation from service.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left foot disability, and back disability. The claim for tinnitus was denied as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete verification of her active duty periods. The low back disorder and bilateral hearing loss issues are also being remanded as there is insufficient evidence on etiology.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to the need for updated treatment records and more current VA examinations.