Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Veteran is granted a certificate of eligibility for specially adapted housing due to his service-connected disabilities.,However, the appeal for financial assistance in obtaining automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only was dismissed as the proper form (VA Form 10182) was not used.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disability, right knee condition, and left knee condition due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and remanded the TDIU claim. The low back disability is not considered to be caused or aggravated by an in-service event, injury, or disease.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for his back disability is dismissed. An initial rating of 20 percent, but no higher, for left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted. The appeal for an initial rating greater than 20 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy is denied. A TDIU from September 13, 2019 is remanded.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of increased evaluation for an acquired psychiatric disorder, service connection for a left hand disability and back disability, as well as TDIU. The AOJ must schedule new examinations to address these issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating for chronic lumbar strain, service connection for arthritis of the right knee (secondary to his service-connected back disability), and TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The claims are being remanded for additional development including new examinations and opinions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, hypertension, and tinnitus. The appeal for service connection of headaches is being remanded.,The Veteran did not provide sufficient evidence to establish service connection for his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of all related claims.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for tension headaches, right hip replacement, left hip replacement, cervical strain, and lumbosacral strain are remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death due to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for GERD, left knee injury residuals, and degenerative disc disease at L5-S1 are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted as service connected, with the Board finding it was proximately due to his service-connected left ankle and bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's migraine headaches and lumbosacral strain are found to be related to his active service.,The Veteran's bilateral eye condition, right elbow condition, right shoulder condition, right wrist condition, left wrist condition, skin condition, left elbow condition, left shoulder condition, and left ankle condition are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine condition and denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for his PTSD service connection.,Service connection was established for a lumbar spine condition, but the effective date is set at January 25, 2016, which is when entitlement arose.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, and his increased rating for lumbar spine disorder is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder and back disabilities due to incomplete medical records. Additional efforts are required to obtain all relevant records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, claimed as a nervous condition, depression, and anxiety is dismissed. The issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected tinnitus has been withdrawn. The claim of service connection for a disability claimed as sleep and dream disturbance is reopened. The issues of entitlement to ratings in excess of 10 percent for service-connected right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and osteoarthritis, right ear hearing loss, and lumbar strain myositis, central herniated nucleus pulposus at L4/L5 are remanded. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical examination and opinion regarding service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The Veteran's lay statements about her back pain history are to be considered, along with her separation examination noting chronic low back pain.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for back, left hip, and right hip disabilities have been dismissed. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the current disabilities and service. The claim for OSA and headaches has been remanded to determine etiology.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate findings regarding additional functional loss caused by flare-ups during the March 2016 VA spine examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back and bilateral knee disabilities due to the need for VA examinations.