Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for increased rating of headaches has been granted, with a 50 percent disability rating.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (major depressive disorder and panic disorder) has also been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD and remanded the issue of rating a thoracolumbar strain.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus due to outstanding relevant treatment records not being associated with his claims file.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for left knee disability and service connection for a low back disorder were denied. The Board found no evidence of recurrent subluxation or lateral instability, dislocated semilunar cartilage with frequent episodes of pain, locking, and effusion into the joint, flexion limited to 30 degrees, extension limited to 15 degrees, malunion of the tibia or fibula, or significant symptoms related to a low back disorder. The Veteran's current conditions are attributed to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran requested to withdraw all his appeal issues, including those related to lumbar spine disability and PTSD. As a result, the Board dismissed the appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and low back conditions due to insufficient examination reports and lack of private treatment records.

The Board has decided that the claim for service connection for a back disability, including as secondary to service-connected right and left knee disabilities, needs further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and neuropathy of the lower extremities as secondary to service-connected foot disabilities. The issues of asthma and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for cardiovascular disease, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, and lower lumbar spine degenerative disc disease due to insufficient medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's back disability is secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability and whether it was caused by in-service helicopter jumps.

The Board has decided to remand several claims for further evaluation, including a new VA examination for bilateral hearing loss and additional medical records for other conditions.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 10 percent for the period prior to November 12, 2019, and at 40 percent beginning November 12, 2019.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to insufficient evidence from the previous VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and cervical spine disability have been denied as the evidence does not show that her conditions warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent or 20 percent, respectively.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar radiculopathy, left lower extremity (claimed as sciatica), to include as secondary to service-connected low back strain is remanded due to inadequate examination and need for a new opinion.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spondylosis and granted a 100 percent rating for PTSD effective March 29, 2015. The decision on the earlier effective date for PTSD is pending.

The Board has granted service connection for thoracolumbar strain with degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, finding that it is attributable to service and resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition was denied as the evidence did not support a finding that his current disability is related to active service.,Service connection for left and right hip conditions were also denied, with the Board finding no current diagnosis of these conditions. The Veteran's contention that they are secondary to his back condition was not supported by the evidence.,The claim for service connection for left and right leg conditions was denied as there is no service-connected disability upon which secondary service connection may be granted.

The Veteran meets the schedular requirements for a TDIU rating and has been unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities, including his generalized anxiety disorder with depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), back disability, shoulder disability, headache disability, and hemorrhoid disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, secondary to a low back disability are denied as there is no evidence of a claim or intent to file a claim prior to March 19, 2018.