Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral foot disability, and lumbar spine disability due to insufficient examination reports. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, with some related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathy are currently rated, but he is seeking higher ratings.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient in-service medical records and the need to obtain additional private treatment records. The Veteran's lay assertions regarding his conditions will be considered, but without supporting documentation.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional evidence to be considered by the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate development and lack of sufficient rationale in previous decisions. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, other specified anxiety disorder, is being reviewed for aggravation by his service-connected disabilities. His back disability and left leg neurological disability are also being reviewed for causation or aggravation by his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for lumbar strain and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Board has remanded three of the Veteran's claims: a higher rating for degenerative disc and joint disease with spondylosis, foramina stenosis; a higher rating for bilateral plantar keratoma; and entitlement to TDIU. The remaining claim for a higher rating for testis removal is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for depressive and anxiety and mood disorders as secondary to service-connected bilateral knee disabilities, but denied reopening of the claim for a low back disorder due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches and remanded the remaining issues including increased ratings, PTSD evaluation, esophageal stricture rating, and erectile dysfunction.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lower back condition and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, which are secondary to his service-connected right knee condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar strain and remanded it for further development. The claims for service connection for a right foot and heel disorder, left plantar fasciitis with heel spur, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as sleep apnea due to in-service complaints. The VA examiners are asked to provide new opinions addressing the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings for left wrist condition, low back disorder, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability. The claims of entitlement to an increased rating for coronary artery disease and acquired psychiatric condition (including PTSD) are being remanded.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from September 1, 2008 to July 30, 2019 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 10 percent for the period from June 25, 2014 to June 6, 2018.,For the period after June 6, 2018, the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and service connection has been denied. The lumbar spine disorder is rated at 20% since December 5, 2011. Service connection for PTSD was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and development of the record to determine if his service-connected disabilities have worsened.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate VA examinations and because of the need to consider service connection on a secondary basis.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current thoracolumbar disability, including whether it preexisted service or is related to active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to a lack of medical examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions. The issues include low back condition, bilateral knee conditions, sleep apnea, sinusitis, and deviated septum disability.