Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the issues of service connection for low back condition, obstructive sleep apnea (secondary to tinnitus), and carpal tunnel syndrome of bilateral upper extremities.

Your appeals for service connection have been dismissed as you withdrew your appeal before a decision was made.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, ear pain, right knee disability, left knee disability, and lumbar spine disability have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during service or are otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for a TDIU is remanded due to the need for further development and consideration of whether he was unemployable prior to September 5, 2017.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability, finding that there was no in-service injury or event and no evidence of continuity of symptomatology within one year of separation from service. The Board also found no presumptive service connection based on arthritis.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current back conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied the remaining issues of service connection. Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure, while other conditions are not supported by evidence of record.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's low back disability, including lumbosacral strain, is not service-connected. The case is being remanded for further review and clarification of the etiology of her condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for back and right shoulder disabilities due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service or falls related to his service-connected seizures.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the November 2019 remand directives and thus, further remand is required to obtain addendum medical opinions addressing all raised theories of entitlement.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for her service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and for a total disability rating based on individual unemployment due to inconsistencies in the medical evidence regarding her neurological impairment.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her low back arthritis is denied, and the claims for increased ratings for her left and right knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's low back condition is related to his military service. A VA examination is needed to determine if any current low back disability found during the appeal period began in or is otherwise caused by the Veteran’s active service.

The Board has remanded four issues related to service connection for various disorders, including a right shoulder disorder, low back disorder, right hip condition, and right knee disorder. The decision also mentions the need for addendum opinions regarding secondary causation.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder and left knee disorder were not found to be related to service, leading to a denial of the claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability. The Veteran is unable to attend a new VA examination and needs an addendum opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ankle disability, left shin splints, and lower back condition due to insufficient medical opinions and a need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records from the Social Security Administration (SSA). The Veteran was not provided with all necessary information about his SSA disability benefits and decisions.