Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for gout and back disability due to inadequate medical opinions, lack of in-service treatment records, and need for additional evidence. The Veteran will be provided with new examinations to address these issues.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 20% from September 15, 2015 onwards.,The Veteran’s left hip extension, flexion, and abduction are each granted a 10% rating from February 1, 2018 onwards. The Veteran’s left hip flexion is also granted a 10% rating from February 1, 2018 onwards.,The Veteran's right knee disorder is rated at 10% and his left knee disorder is rated at 10%. Both are granted TDIU status.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional development. The issues include lumbar spine disorder, gastrointestinal disorders (diverticulosis and acid reflux disease), fatigue characterized by obstructive sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back disability, neck disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to additional development of records and medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a low back disability, arthralgic right knee, and right knee strain due to missing records and inadequate medical opinions. The claims will be reviewed again with additional development.

The Board has denied service connection for a neck disability, but granted service connection for low back, right knee, and right ankle disabilities. Service connection was also denied for bilateral hearing loss and thyroid disorder.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's low back disability, with reasonable doubt favoring the claim.

The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was previously denied, and new evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.,Service connection for lumbar spine, left shoulder, right shoulder, and right hip disorders is denied as there is no evidence of chronic conditions during service or within one year after separation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding her claims of entitlement to increased ratings for PTSD and alcohol abuse disorder, as well as service connection for a back disability.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a renal cyst, asthma, left shoulder degenerative arthritis, spondylosis of the lumbar spine, and cervical spondylosis is remanded due to insufficient development. The Veteran will need updated VA treatment records, an opinion on whether her current asthma is related to service, and examinations for her left shoulder, cervical, and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a back injury, including lumbar spine arthritis, as there was insufficient evidence to establish the condition is related to service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including back pain, scoliosis, cervical spine arthritis, left arm lateral epicondylitis, knee bursitis, leg and hip conditions, restless leg syndrome, nosebleeds, gastrointestinal issues, headaches, dizziness, foot arthritis, bunions, osteoporosis, hypertension, heart condition, insomnia, sleep apnea, myofascial pain syndrome, eye pain/dryness, gynecological condition (uterine cysts/fibroids), breast cancer, depression secondary to breast cancer, jaw/teeth pain, and PTSD. The Board found no evidence of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for diabetes, type II is dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for degenerative disc disease (DDD), lumbar spine L5-S1 with right lumbar radicular syndrome, claimed as low back with pinched nerve, right hip and hypertension.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's back disability, including a lack of medical records from his 1992 workmen's compensation claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar strain with arthritis, right knee disability, and right leg disability has been remanded due to the need for additional development.,An effective date of December 28, 2004 is granted for the grant of service connection for lumbar strain with arthritis.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has precluded him from securing and following any substantially gainful occupation since January 22, 2015. The Board granted a TDIU based on the PTSD disability. Additionally, the Veteran is entitled to SMC at the housebound rate due to his combined 100 percent schedular rating for service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his lumbosacral spine disability and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination. The case is also intertwined with the increased rating claim.

The Veteran's claim to reopen a low back disability was denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to support the claim.,Service connection for neck disability was denied as there is no evidence of current disability related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and evaluation due to new evidence indicating a worsening of the Veteran's left knee and back disorders. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as there are insufficient medical opinions regarding the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.

The Board denied service connection for back disability and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, finding no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and active service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's current right ankle and lumbar spine conditions are related to his in-service complaints.