Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to failure to appear for VA examinations. The Board will reschedule the exams and consider the issues.

The Board has found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent, and his erectile dysfunction and gout do not warrant compensable ratings. The right knee condition is remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities, including low back disorder, cervical spine disorder, bilateral knee disorders, bilateral foot disorders, anxiety disorder, and sleep disorder. The VA is instructed to obtain relevant post-service treatment records and schedule a VA examination to determine if these conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to his service-connected lumbar spine disability, which contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Board has dismissed the claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss. The remaining issues on appeal have been remanded.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for a right shoulder disability, low back disability and right knee disability due to new evidence. However, further development is needed as physical examination is required.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a right little finger fracture, thoracolumbar spine disability, left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, bilateral foot strain, and bilateral knee patellofemoral syndrome. Service connection was denied for residuals of Valley fever.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding his gastrointestinal and lumbosacral spine disorders, which are related to his service-connected staphylococcus infection and/or prostatitis.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination and new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The SSOC will be issued after all outstanding records are obtained.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back condition and cervical degenerative disc disease, both found to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected knee conditions. Service connection for a bilateral hip condition is also granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, right hip osteoarthritis, left hip osteoarthritis, and tinnitus due to incomplete service medical records. The Veteran is advised to provide alternative forms of evidence and any pertinent treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that his disability does not warrant a higher rating as he does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, residuals of gunshot wound to the left arm, sleep apnea, and dementia due to a lack of evidence showing that these conditions began during his military service or were related to any in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Board found that the effective date of his temporary total evaluation was not earlier than September 21, 2015, and denied higher schedular ratings for his right shoulder and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a back disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service. The Board noted that the Veteran had reported back pain during his Southwest Asia deployment in 2003 but did not have any subsequent medical records indicating ongoing or chronic issues related to this incident.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, granted effective dates of April 25, 2011 for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied service connection for PTSD prior to February 24, 2015.,Service connection was not established for the Veteran's back disability as there is no probative evidence linking it to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the claims for an increased initial rating for lumbosacral strain and service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD due to outstanding VA examinations not being conducted.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbosacral degenerative disc disease (DDD) associated with right total knee replacement and the claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to inadequate development of evidence regarding functional impairment during flare-ups.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates for service connection of PTSD, a low back disability, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, a lumbar back scar, and tinnitus. The remaining claims have been remanded.

The Veteran's initial rating for herniated nucleus pulpous with a history of lumbar laminectomy and lumbar myositis from July 16, 2003 to March 21, 2016 was denied. For the period beginning on June 1, 2016, his claim for an increased rating was also denied.