Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of his low back condition as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claim.

The Board has remanded the claim for additional consideration due to a need for an addendum medical opinion addressing whether service-connected respiratory disability aggravates obesity, which may be related to lower back disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic lumbar spine disability, finding that there was no evidence of a disease in service or within the presumptive period, and that continuity of symptomatology could not be established. The Board also found that the current diagnosis is not related to an in-service injury.

Service connection for a cervical spine disability, low back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and seizure disorder is denied.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction is remanded due to lack of an opinion on the relationship between service-connected PTSD and GERD.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability, finding that the evidence did not establish flexion to less than 61 degrees or a combined range of motion less than 121 degrees.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical opinions regarding the Veteran's arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and its relation to service.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and that the current condition is not related to service.,For hypertension, the Board remanded the issue due to insufficient evidence on whether it was caused by service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and for effective dates earlier than May 26, 2016, for his right knee, left knee, and lumbar spine disabilities. The claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for each of these conditions is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for arthralgias, to include arthritis, other than of the thoracolumbar spine, left shoulder, and left hip. The case is being returned due to inadequate medical opinions in previous examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability and a back disability due to inadequate opinions in the February 2020 etiology opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, specifically regarding active motion, passive motion, and pain without weight bearing. The Veteran needs a new VA examination that complies with the July 2019 remand directives.

The Veteran's initial increased ratings for lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome with arthritis were denied, except for a 20 percent rating granted from March 19, 2019 through May 19, 2019.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for lumbar spine and right leg disabilities due to insufficient evidence in the VA examiner's opinion. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions based on an in-service motor vehicle accident.

The Veteran's skin condition, left knee strain, and lumbar strain have been rated appropriately throughout the appellate period. The Veteran's skin condition is at its maximum schedular rating of 60 percent. His left knee strain has a uniform 10 percent rating for painful motion. His lumbar strain does not meet criteria for any higher ratings.

The Veteran's claims for an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for mixed anxiety and depressed mood, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a back disability, and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities have been dismissed. The Board found no evidence to support these claims.

The Board dismissed the appeals of service connection for neck condition, back condition, left knee condition, and post-operative right knee condition as they were withdrawn by the Veteran. The petition to reopen the previously denied claim for acquired psychiatric disorder was granted due to new and material evidence being submitted.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's death, and no service connection claims were decided.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disabilities, back disability, and bilateral foot disability. The Veteran's claims were based on his contention that these conditions are related to his active military service.,The VA examiner found no evidence of a pre-existing condition in the Veteran’s knees or back during service, and concluded that any current conditions are not due to or caused by his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on several conditions have been withdrawn. The claims for right ankle disability, chronic kidney disability, and PTSD rating are being remanded due to the need for additional examination or evidence. The claim for chronic kidney disease has been reopened based on new evidence.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and right knee disability are being remanded for further examination and rating considerations.