Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for low back disability, as there are insufficient medical opinions and missing records that need to be obtained.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder and increased ratings for right knee impairment and left knee DJD with painful motion, finding that the Veteran's conditions are not related to service or caused by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for a lower back disorder, concluding that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's contention that his current condition began during or was aggravated by military service.

The Board has denied service connection for right shoulder, left shoulder, thoracolumbar spine (back), right hip, left hip, and left knee disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or any presumptive exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathy are being remanded for further evaluation due to worsening symptoms and surgical procedures.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine disability and his claim for service connection for a heart disorder. The issues are being remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and need for further development.

The Board denied a higher disability rating for the Veteran's lower back disability, finding that there was no evidence of incapacitating episodes or ankylosis to warrant a higher rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sinusitis, and psoriasis. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar sprain and strain is remanded due to insufficient evidence. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for headaches remains on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine, right knee, and right ankle disabilities. The increased rating claim for lumbar spurring and spondylosis with degenerative arthritis is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and inability to conduct VA examinations. The claims will be reviewed again with additional evidence and a medical opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that there was no evidence of chronic back pain during or after service and no medical opinion linking his current diagnoses to service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating and an earlier effective date for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was granted. The effective date is set at June 21, 2006.

The Veteran is granted a higher 20 percent rating for his thoracic and lumbar spine IVDS and strain from January 1, 2012 to October 7, 2015. The claim for a higher rating beyond this period was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the failure of the Veteran to report for scheduled VA examinations. The Board will provide another opportunity for the Veteran to attend these exams.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral degenerative disease with radiculopathy and intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) were denied. The Veteran was not granted a rating in excess of the current assigned ratings.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection have not been properly adjudicated and requires further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability, specifically whether it is related to service or pre-existing. The Veteran testified that his current low back disability is related to an injury during basic training.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a lumbosacral disability, evaluation of left shoulder disability, and increased rating for left upper extremity paresthesias due to incomplete development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for right knee, left knee, back, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus type II disabilities. The issues are remanded due to a lack of SSA records.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn regarding the right ankle fracture. The Board has remanded cases for further examination and review of medical records.