Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities, diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, and a disability manifesting in low testosterone secondary to Hodgkin’s disease due to radiation exposure during treatment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back, left hip, and right hip disabilities are related to an injury he sustained during active duty service in November 2003. As a result, the Board granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance and housebound status due to service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not support that he was in need of regular aid and assistance or permanently housebound.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional examinations and records, as there are missing medical treatment records and the evidence suggests his disabilities have worsened since previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and clarification of medical opinions.

The Board has ordered a new examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's low back disorder due to non-compliance with combat presumption requirements.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is caused or aggravated by his service-connected back and heart disabilities. The VA needs to provide a new medical advisory opinion addressing these issues.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims to reopen for service connection for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, back disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety, and depression), dermatophytosis of the left foot, and dermatophytosis of the right foot.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar strain is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of evidence meeting VA disability criteria. The new evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.,The Veteran's claim for tinnitus was reopened as new and material evidence has been submitted, but service connection is still denied because there is no nexus between his period of service and his current condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is etiologically related to his in-service injury, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with IVDS are not considered service-connected as they are unrelated to his active duty service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that his current diagnoses are related to in-service back injuries. The Board also remanded the issue of secondary service connection for sciatica.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including a right leg condition (now claimed as radiculopathy), left leg condition (now claimed as radiculopathy), neck condition, back condition, and breathing condition. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to active service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, COPD (also claimed as asthma), and hepatitis B due to incomplete records. The Veteran's service treatment records were not obtained until January 2017.

The Veteran's initial ratings for hypertension and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine remain at 10 percent and 20 percent, respectively, as their symptoms do not meet or approximate criteria warranting higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's initial 70 percent rating for a psychiatric disorder is granted. The Board also remanded several issues on appeal, including service connection claims for various disabilities.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, acne vulgaris, cervical spine disability, left ankle disability, low back disability, radiculopathy, and obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and evidence.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the submission of new VA medical evidence and inextricably intertwined issues with a claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been granted with effective dates of April 10, 2017.