Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including verifying the Veteran's claimed personal assault stressor and obtaining medical opinions regarding his diagnoses and service connection claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left shoulder tendonitis and low back strain due to inadequate VA examinations in the prior decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased evaluation and TDIU prior to March 7, 2012 due to the need for a retrospective opinion on the nature and severity of his lumbar spine disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a new examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a back condition, numbness of the left lower extremity, and numbness of the right lower extremity.,These issues are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbar spine disability, sleep apnea, and increased rating for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence received.

The Board found that discontinuance of VR&E services based on a negative feasibility determination was proper due to the Veteran's significant physical health issues and extensive limitations in his activities. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability have been granted.,New evidence has been submitted that relates to the unestablished facts necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings are remanded due to insufficient evidence of current disability severity. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to assess his migraines, allergic rhinitis, low back disability, and liver condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, back disorder, bilateral flatfoot, and degenerative joint disease of the left anterior crest have been denied.,The Board found that there is no evidence linking these conditions to military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's left shoulder subacromial bursitis is granted a 20 percent rating. The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is denied ratings greater than 10 percent prior to April 8, 2013 and greater than 20 percent thereafter.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and found that a current disability (degenerative arthritis) is present. However, there is no established link between this condition and an in-service injury or event.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is reopened, and he is granted secondary service connection for his thoracolumbar spine disability due to his right knee disability.

All claims for service connection and rating increases have been dismissed due to the appellant not filing an adequate substantive appeal.,The Board lacks jurisdiction over the issues of entitlement to a compensable rating for left hip pain based on limitation of extension of the left thigh, entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for left hip pain based on limitation of flexion of the left thigh, and entitlement to an effective date earlier than April 27, 2015, for the award of a 20 percent rating for left hip pain based on impairment of the left thigh.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for a VA examination. The Veteran's reported back pain during service is being evaluated.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 40 percent from June 1, 2017 to November 13, 2017. The Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his disability.

Service connection granted for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, tinnitus, headaches, and sleep apnea.,PTSD rating denied as the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a 100% disability rating.

The Board denied attorney fees as the Veteran did not file an NOD for the service connection claims in December 2016 and March 2017 rating decisions.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for right knee condition due to new and material evidence. However, both issues of service connection for right knee disability and lumbar spine disability are remanded as there is insufficient medical opinion regarding whether these conditions are related to or aggravated by the service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran withdrew all his appeals, including those related to higher ratings for sciatica and lumbosacral spondylolisthesis with IVDS, an increased rating for right shoulder impingement syndrome, a TDIU effective date earlier than August 25, 2011, service connection for tinnitus, and hearing loss. The Board dismissed the appeal due to withdrawal.