Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of low back, left knee, right knee, and kidney disorders due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The claims for service connection of left heel, right heel, and left ankle disorders are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.,Additional examination is required to determine if the Veteran’s unspecified depressive disorder is related to his in-service exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards.,An additional VA examination is needed to assess whether the Veteran’s headaches are due to exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,The Veteran's sleep disturbance (including sleep apnea and insomnia) claims require an additional VA examination to determine if they are related to his in-service exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,An additional VA examination is needed to assess whether the Veteran’s athlete's foot is due to exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,The Veteran's fibromyalgia with bilateral leg pain claims require an additional VA examination to determine if it is related to his in-service exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,An additional VA examination is needed to assess whether the Veteran’s hypertension is due to exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,The Veteran's right knee disability claims require an additional VA examination to determine if they are related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents and/or Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,The Veteran's left knee disability claims require an additional VA examination to determine if they are related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents and/or Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability claims require an additional VA examination to determine if they are related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents and/or Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,The Veteran's skin rash on face and head claims require an additional VA examination to determine if it is due to exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,An additional VA examination is needed to assess whether the Veteran’s gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is related to his in-service exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy, as well as his claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran is required to undergo new examinations and obtain records from various providers.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The Board also remanded the claims for low back condition, bilateral hand condition, right shoulder injury, and bilateral knee conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and lower extremity disabilities. The Veteran is also being referred for consideration of an extraschedular rating for his pes planus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder has been reopened, but the appeal is denied as new and material evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disorder and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities are denied. The Veteran also seeks a TDIU on schedular and extraschedular bases, which are both granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal for further development and evaluation of her service-connected left knee, left ankle, right knee reflex sympathetic dystrophy, and low back disabilities due to inadequate prior examinations.

The Board denied service connection for various knee, elbow, neck, and hand disorders due to a lack of current diagnoses or evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, cervical spine disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, and bilateral foot disability due to outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's cause of death was not due to a service-connected disability, and the claim for service-connected burial benefits is denied as there is no established service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has withdrawn the issues of service connection for low testosterone and entitlement to an effective date earlier than June 20, 2013 for service connection for glaucoma. The remaining issues have been REMANDED for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for updated VA treatment records and an orthopedic and neurological examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s dysthymic disorder warrants a 70% rating, but not higher, prior to August 28, 2007. For periods after August 28, 2007, his dysthymic disorder is rated as 70%. His chronic lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and tender scalp scar are both rated at the current levels of 20% and 10%, respectively. The Veteran's claims for service connection for muscle pain, joint pain, sleep apnea, and TDIU were remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbar spine disability and neurological disorder of bilateral lower extremities due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's service treatment records do not contain reports of back complaints or a lumbar spine diagnosis, but he is competent to testify about his in-service injury. A VA examination must be conducted to determine if any diagnosed disabilities are related to service, including Agent Orange exposure and combat injuries.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for ulcerative colitis is granted, with the condition rated at 30 percent since November 29, 2017. The claim for TDIU benefits is also granted.

The Board denied service connection for low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's right knee strain is granted a 10% rating. The left knee osteochondritis dissecans and lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, but denied his claims for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and additional records, as well as the need to determine if the Veteran's low back disability is related to service.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for various conditions, including back condition, COPD, artery bypass, prostate cancer, and leukemia. The appeal for TDIU was also dismissed. Service connection for lymphoma due to exposure at Camp Lejeune is granted, as is service connection for the cause of death.