Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition is etiologically related to his active military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, a right knee condition, and a back condition due to insufficient development of evidence. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all relevant records, including in-service medical records from Korea, and provide the Veteran with an appropriate VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and a lumbar spine disability, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these disabilities and service. The Board also found that the Veteran did not meet the elements of a secondary service connection claim as his right knee disability had not been established.

The petition to reopen service connection for lumbosacral strain with spinal fusion was granted. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was denied, and the claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss is still pending.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 30 percent for right knee total arthroplasty was dismissed.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a back disorder, which is now granted.,Service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right ankle is granted as it is proximately due to his service-connected right knee total arthroplasty.,Service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left hip is granted as it is proximately due to his service-connected right knee total arthroplasty.,Service connection for lower lumbar facet arthritis is granted as it is proximately due to his service-connected right knee total arthroplasty.

The Board has dismissed the claims for bilateral shin splints, sinusitis, and a heart disability. The claim for reopening of service connection for lumbosacral strain is remanded due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran withdrew all issues on appeal, including service connection and increased rating claims for PTSD, back disability, cervical spine disability, sleep apnea, and prostate cancer. As a result, the Board has dismissed these appeals.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and that the current condition is not related to service.

The Board denied service connection for low back injury, right knee condition, erectile dysfunction, PFB, and depressive disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active service.,Service connection may not be presumed for any of these conditions as there is no evidence within one year of separation showing arthritis or other disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU on an extraschedular basis, finding that his service-connected lumbar spine disability did not result in marked interference with employment or frequent hospitalizations to render impractical the application of regular schedular standards.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical DDD, finding that it is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected chronic lumbar fibromyositis and there is no evidence of a current injury in service. The decision also found insufficient medical nexus to establish direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for a service-connected mood disorder, an initial compensable rating for a service-connected TBI, and entitlement to total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The claims of service connection for back, bilateral knee, and bilateral foot disorders are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is also being remanded.

The Board denied service connection for back, neck, and left shoulder disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service or any other basis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and bilateral lower extremity sciatica, as well as his claim for TDIU due to inadequate VA examinations. The issues are being remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that there was no evidence of a causal relationship between his current condition and his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further medical examinations. The issues include cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, right elbow disorder, and respiratory disorder.

The Board has denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed back disability, left knee total arthroplasty, right knee total arthroplasty, left hip degenerative joint disease, and right hip degenerative joint disease. The Board found that there is insufficient evidence to link these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine and for TDIU due to new evidence and inadequate previous examinations. The Veteran will need to undergo further VA examinations.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,The Veteran's current rating for hepatitis C and lumbar osteoarthritis with IVDS are both at their maximum allowed levels, effective November 15, 2001 and August 11, 2015 respectively. The Veteran’s PTSD remains rated at the highest level of disability.,The Veteran's left ankle and knee disabilities have not been service-connected.