Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examinations for the Veteran's PTSD, TBI, and back disability claims.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of right knee, back, and hip disorders is remanded for additional examination to address the relationship between these conditions and his service-connected right foot disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and the need for VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for recurrent low back strain and TDIU are remanded due to the need to verify his current address and obtain VA examinations.

The claim to service connection for a low back disability is reopened and remanded. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee strain and arthritis, right hip strain, left hip strain, and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. Service connection is denied for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine.

The Board has remanded three issues: an initial rating for a back disability, an initial compensable rating for a deviated nasal septum, and service connection for a right knee disorder claimed as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected back disability. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to assess his current symptomatology and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's DDD of the low back is rated at 40 percent effective November 3, 2018. The TDIU claim was granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased rating for right knee disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's low back disorder. The issues are being remanded for further development, including obtaining a new VA medical opinion.

The Board dismissed the appeals for back disability, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and hypertension as the Veteran's authorized representative requested withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, finding that his current degenerative disc disease is at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea was denied in a previous rating decision, but the Board has now granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The grant is based on aggravation of an already service-connected condition.

The Veteran's lumbar strain disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is warranted due to inadequate evidence from the most recent VA examination. The case is being remanded for an updated examination.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a right hip replacement, joint pain condition, and lumbar spine condition have been withdrawn.,Service connection for a respiratory condition (asthma) due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune has been denied. The evidence is insufficient to establish a nexus between the current diagnosis of asthma and her period of service.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for right knee and low back disabilities were denied as the evidence did not show that his conditions resulted from VA care, treatment or training.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the lower left extremity has been granted a 20 percent rating effective April 10, 2014. The Board finds that additional development is needed for his other service-connected disabilities as their severity may impact the ratings assigned.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right ankle, lower back, right hip, and right knee disabilities are related to his service-connected left ankle disability. However, due to incomplete opinions from previous VA examinations, a new examination is required to determine if these conditions were caused or aggravated by his service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left knee disability, low back disability, and bilateral hearing loss and hyperacusis due to insufficient medical opinions. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, as well as a lumbar spine disability due to the Veteran's failure to report for scheduled VA examinations. The case will be returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back degenerative disk disease is related to service, and grants service connection for this condition.