Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and TDIU due to inadequate examinations and lack of proper employment information.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a kidney condition, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD), and various musculoskeletal conditions. The effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was set at September 12, 2017. All other issues have been remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back condition as secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran requires additional examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected lumbar strain, right hip strain, diminished flexion of the right thigh, right knee strain, right medial epicondylitis, and left medial epicondylitis. The RO is also instructed to issue a Statement of the Case for the issues of entitlement to increased disability ratings for service-connected right medial epicondylitis and left medial epicondylitis.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD was denied, as the symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability was denied, as the symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for VR&E benefits due to his not having a serious employment handicap and his eligibility period ending on August 11, 2008.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disorder, specifically whether it is related to service or was caused by his service-connected right toe disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, right ankle disorder, and left ankle disorder are denied. The VA examinations did not provide sufficient information to determine if the current disorders were caused or worsened by service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a low back disability due to his failure to cooperate and report for a necessary VA examination. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD, anxiety, and bipolar disorder) was also denied because there is no evidence of current diagnoses within the appellate period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment from December 7, 2015. The Board finds that the Veteran is entitled to TDIU from this date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and back disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of his current conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected adjustment disorder and degenerative disc disease. The evidence shows that the Veteran's weight gain, which is related to his service-connected conditions, caused his obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of a back disability due to insufficient consideration of continuity of symptoms and in-service diagnoses.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left hip condition. The right hip and low back conditions are pending as they may be related to his service-connected left hip condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee condition and lower back condition, both of which are secondary to his service-connected left knee condition. The case is being returned for additional development and new VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient discussion of theories of entitlement, including whether the Veteran's psychiatric disability caused or aggravated his diagnosed back disorder. The claim for service connection for a neck and back disorder is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's lumbosacral muscle strain with degenerative changes at L5-S1 is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, but the Board has determined that this rating is not warranted due to lack of evidence showing forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less, favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine, or incapacitating episodes of intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) having a total duration of at least 4 weeks but less than 6 weeks during the preceding 12 months.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating for various conditions are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right eye injury, and migraine headaches. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.,Service records do not show any documented injuries or diagnoses related to the Veteran’s current conditions.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for her lumbar strain are denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.