Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for various disabilities due to outstanding records and inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran will need to provide additional treatment records, including those from private providers. He will also be provided with new examinations related to his psychiatric disorder, hypertension, lung disability, left shoulder, back, knee, and ankle disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability had its onset during his military service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine was denied, but he was granted a TDIU effective from May 17, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and low back disorder have been granted. The claim for a higher rating for PTSD is remanded. The TDIU issue is also remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The right ankle, left knee, and back disabilities were remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's Bell’s palsy is granted, and the Board has remanded for further development regarding other service-connected claims.

The Veteran's back disorder, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss are all found to be related to his military service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disorders, as well as a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine is related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.,The Veteran is seeking a higher rating for his knee conditions, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, lumbar spine disorder, thoracic spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, neurological deficits, carpal tunnel syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic stage III kidney disease and special monthly pension (SMP) have been dismissed.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral arm disability, bilateral leg disability, and back disability. The appeals are granted to this extent only.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a left eye disability was dismissed as the claimant intended to appeal his right eye rating, not his left eye condition.,Service connection for low back disability and bilateral hearing loss were denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to her service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and cervical strain. The Board has found that the evidence is insufficient to grant higher ratings for these conditions or to establish new service connection for additional conditions such as traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic headaches. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and secondary service connection for pain due to scar tissue, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected low back condition is being remanded due to inadequate examination and the need for additional medical records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back, right shoulder, right hip, left hip, right ankle, bilateral flatfoot, and bilateral plantar fasciitis disabilities due to incomplete records and a need for VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for depression as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities. The claims for increased ratings of chondromalacia patella of both knees and service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine are remanded.

The Veteran's chronic low back pain, left and right lower radiculopathy have been granted a rating of 20 percent each. TDIU has been granted beginning December 13, 2016.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a low back condition and secondary service connection for leg pain and numbness, finding no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed. The appeal for TDIU has also been dismissed.