Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for psychiatric disorder, lumbar spine disability, migraine headaches, and Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome due to new evidence. The remaining issues are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, low back disability, left ankle and knee disabilities, bilateral eye disabilities, hemorrhoids, scar, skin disability, and PTSD are remanded due to the need for additional development.,VA examinations were cancelled because the Veteran missed them. The Board finds that medical opinions are needed to address the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 40 percent from February 24, 2015 onwards. Separate evaluations of 40 percent are granted for sciatic nerve radiculopathy in each lower extremity and 30 percent for femoral nerve radiculopathy in each lower extremity.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and his lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent. The TDIU claim due to PTSD is granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's previously denied claims of service connection for various disabilities, including thoracolumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, pelvic disability, bilateral knee disability, left arm disability, and left foot disability. The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development, including VA examinations to address the Veteran's reports of continuing back pain and eye trouble since service.

The Board has remanded the claims for herniated lumbar disc with degenerative joint disease, right and left knee degenerative joint disease, and sleep apnea due to inadequate VA medical opinions. Additional opinions are needed as there is evidence of treatment in service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding treatment records and further medical opinions are needed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinion regarding aggravation of the low back disorder by the service-connected right knee disability. Additional development is needed, including obtaining updated treatment records and providing a supplemental medical opinion.

A rating of 40 percent for a low back disability is granted effective November 4, 2019. A separate compensable rating of 10 percent for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is also granted effective November 4, 2019.,A 10 percent rating for a right shoulder disability is granted effective August 26, 2019.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability may be related to his period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and remands the case for a VA examination to determine if there is a causal relationship between service and the current diagnosis.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have had its onset during service and the Board finds in favor of granting service connection for this condition.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to noise exposure during service. The Veteran’s claim for secondary service connection based on his service-connected generalized arthralgias is also denied.,The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to have had its onset during service and the Board finds in favor of granting service connection for this condition, as it is considered secondary to his service-connected generalized arthralgias. The claim for secondary service connection based on his service-connected esophagitis with hiatal hernia is also denied.,The Veteran's neck disorder is found not related to service and the Board finds in favor of denying service connection for this condition. The claims for secondary service connection based on his service-connected arthralgias are also denied.,The Veteran's neck scar is found not related to service and the Board finds in favor of denying service connection for this condition. The claims for secondary service connection based on his service-connected arthralgias are also denied.,The Veteran's right arm disorder is found not related to service and the Board finds in favor of denying service connection for this condition. The claim for secondary service connection based on his service-connected neck disorder is also denied.,The Veteran's left arm disorder is found not related to service and the Board finds in favor of denying service connection for this condition. The claim for secondary service connection based on his service-connected neck disorder is also denied.,The Veteran's low back scar is found not related to service and the Board finds in favor of denying service connection for this condition. The claims for secondary service connection based on his service-connected arthralgias are also denied.,The Veteran's right leg disorder is found not related to service and the Board finds in favor of denying service connection for this condition. The claim for secondary service connection based on his service-connected arthralgias is also denied.,The Veteran's left shoulder disorder separate and distinct from service-connected generalized arthralgia is found not related to service and the Board finds in favor of denying service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and ratings related to various disabilities has been dismissed due to their death.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc and joint disease, including radiculopathy, is granted as service-connected.,Secondary service connection for right upper extremity neuropathy is also granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his right knee, lumbar spine, and right hip disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any of these conditions.,A new VA examination was ordered to determine the severity of the Veteran’s right knee disability. However, despite some improvement noted in 2011, his range of motion remained within normal limits and he did not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability has been reopened, but the Board finds that remand is necessary to obtain an addendum opinion addressing whether his lumbar spine disability was caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities, as well as the need for VA examinations to evaluate the severity of his current residuals.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's back disorder, which includes lower disc with exaggerated curvature of the spine, is not secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional development being needed, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination for an assessment of symptoms associated with medication used to treat the Veteran's service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for spinal meningitis, hepatitis C, and lumbar spine disability have been denied.,New evidence has reopened the claim of service connection for hepatitis C, but it remains denied.