Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for neck, lumbar spine, bilateral knee, and bilateral ankle disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations and conflicting opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and initial compensable evaluation for residuals of right thumb hemangioma due to insufficient evidence and need for further medical examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been granted, with effective dates set at April 13, 2016. The Veteran is still denied a higher rating for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the appellant's current low back disability is related to his in-service paralumbar strain. The examiner must consider the appellant's lay statements and provide an opinion on the etiology of the claimed condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, bilateral ankle, low back, and left elbow disorders due to a lack of evidence showing current disabilities. The appeals are being remanded to obtain additional service records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee, right hip, and low back disabilities due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran will need VA examinations to address whether his current disabilities are caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability, obesity, and other factors.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 20 percent, effective January 31, 2011. The rating for his gall bladder removal remains at 10 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that his current condition was not related to service and lacked continuity of symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee strain and mechanical low back pain due to insufficient evidence regarding the dates of active duty and Reserve service, as well as the nature and etiology of his current conditions.

An increased initial disability rating of 100 percent for service-connected PTSD is granted during the entire appeal period.,Service connection for Parkinson's disease, right shoulder disability, right elbow disability, and right fourth finger disability (claimed as a right hand disability) are denied.,Service connection for cystitis glandularis and benign prostatic hyperplasia and urinary retention are remanded to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back condition and a right shoulder condition, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his in-service chronic pain and injuries.,Service connection was also granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and panic disorder).

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service.,VA has granted the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back condition, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and lumbar bulge and disc herniation.,The Board has also granted service connection for a left knee condition, including degenerative arthritis of the left knee, internal derangement and torn meniscus of the left knee with status post arthroscopy and medial meniscectomy.

The Veteran's back condition is granted service connection, and the claims for left leg arthritis and right shoulder condition are remanded.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to incomplete records and need for further development, including VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, depressive disorder, and PTSD. The claim for low back disability was reopened but still denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service. Service connection for depressive disorder and PTSD were also denied.

The Board has denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and sciatic nerve damage, left leg. The Veteran's knee conditions are also remanded.,Service connection is not granted for pseudofolliculitis barbae as there is no current diagnosis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back degenerative spondylosis, right shoulder sprain, right knee arthritis, left knee arthritis, and acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) have been granted. The effective date is July 5, 2006.

Service connection for PTSD is granted, and service connection for a left knee disability is denied. The issue of service connection for a low back disability is remanded.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of the Veteran's low back condition, bilateral plantar fasciitis, bilateral foot neuroma, and bilateral bunions as she withdrew her appeals on record.