Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, arthralgias of multiple joints including lumbar spine, feet, ankles, and knees, and TDIU due to inadequate examination and medical opinions. The Veteran is advised that he may be required to undergo further examinations if he does not cooperate with VA’s attempts.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of increased evaluation for bilateral plantar fasciitis, service connection for sleep apnea and low back disorder, and service connection for a left knee disorder. The case will be returned to the Board after further examination and medical opinions are obtained.

The Veteran's left ankle sprain is granted service connection.,Service connection for the Veteran's left shoulder dislocation injury (now diagnosed as degenerative arthritis) is denied.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, cervical spine disability, bilateral shoulder disabilities, bilateral elbow disabilities, bilateral wrist disabilities, and bilateral hip disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings is remanded to allow for further examination and evaluation of his lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee disabilities, and scarring. The goal is to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Board has denied the claims of service connection for low back disability, mid-back disability, and left epididymitis as there is no competent evidence of current disabilities.

The Board dismissed the claims of service connection for back, neck, bilateral plantar fasciitis, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to an improper Substantive Appeal submitted by the Veteran's representative.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication, including obtaining missing VA examination reports. The Veteran is seeking service connection for a cervical spine disability affecting his neck (other than DDD), an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, and service connection for a left knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition was reopened and granted effective December 15, 2011.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability. The claim will be further developed and a new VA examination is required.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted service connection, but his lumbar spine condition is denied. The Board has ordered a remand for further examination of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various conditions, including scoliosis, prostate disability, lumbar spine disability, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and radiculopathy. The Veteran's representative was not informed of completed actions regarding these matters.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, and back disabilities due to missing in-service treatment records and a need for additional examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for PTSD, low back disorder, and left knee disorder due to new evidence received since the final decisions. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's low back disability is aggravated by his service-connected DJD of the right knee.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbar spine and left knee conditions due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their relationship to service. The Veteran's service records indicate he served as a helicopter repairer or repairman, which may be relevant to his current conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for a back disability and TBI, as additional development is needed. Relevant SSA records must be obtained, and treatment records from the hospital where the appellant was treated after being hit in the head with an M16 should also be sought.

For the initial rating period from June 16, 2009 to February 24, 2016, a higher initial disability rating of 20 percent for the left shoulder disability is granted.,For the initial rating period from February 24, 2016 forward, a higher initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for the left shoulder disability is denied.,For the initial rating period from June 16, 2009 to December 7, 2017, a higher initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the right ankle disability is denied.,For the initial rating period from December 7, 2017 forward, a higher initial disability rating of 40 percent for the right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The right ankle, rib fractures, lung condition, and back disorder are not rated higher than the current assigned ratings.

The Board has granted the reopening of the claim for service connection for a right knee injury and denied both the original claim for service connection for a right knee injury and the claim for service connection for a low back condition.