Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including those related to dental bridge, respiratory conditions, generalized joint pain, low back pain, hypertension, sleep apnea, and erectile dysfunction. The issues are all related to service connection due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder condition and back condition due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has granted service connection for bipolar disorder but has remanded the issue of service connection for a lumbar spine disability due to insufficient evidence.

For the appeal period prior to July 2, 2020, an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a right hip bone graft was denied.,As of July 2, 2020, an initial rating of 30 percent, but no higher, for residuals of a right hip bone graft is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, but remanded the cases of right knee disability and low back disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development.,The Board has denied higher disability evaluations for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease prior to May 12, 2014 and as of May 12, 2014.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, headache disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression, dementia, and PTSD), and traumatic brain injury are not service-connected.,Service connection was denied for all claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including low back strain and intermittent bowel incontinence, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since January 12, 2010. The Board has granted TDIU for this period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, a back disorder, and erectile dysfunction due to inadequate examination reports and new evidence. The claims are being reviewed again with additional opinions.

The Board has granted a 20 percent disability rating for the Veteran's left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, but has remanded the claim for entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was granted a rating of 20 percent prior to June 23, 2017. The disability is characterized by pain beginning at 60 degrees of flexion and no significant functional loss during flare-ups or on repetition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is not related to her service or her service-connected bilateral knee condition, and therefore denied her claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to address service connection and aggravation of a thoracolumbar spine disability, including consideration of lay statements regarding onset in service.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes, impaired fasting glucose disorder, lumbar spine strain, right shoulder DJD, prostate disability, and allergic rhinitis have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis, finding that the current diagnoses of degenerative osteoarthritis were not incurred in or related to service.

The Veteran's left ankle sprain, lumbar strain, cervical strain, right knee patellar bursitis, and left knee patellar bursitis are all rated at the maximum available rating of 10 percent. The Veteran’s sinus arrhythmia is not compensable. For the period from June 2, 2012 to February 12, 2020, his PTSD is rated as 50 percent disabling; since February 13, 2020, it is rated at 70 percent.,PTSD has been found to cause occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 100% rating throughout the entire period of the claim, and service connection for other conditions are remanded.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for increased disability rating and service connection. The first issue involves his left foot condition, while the second concerns a low back disability potentially related to his service-connected left foot injury.

The Veteran's service connection for a back disability and PTSD prior to April 18, 2011 is granted. A 70 percent rating for PTSD is granted but denied at any time on appeal. The Veteran also receives TDIU benefits prior to March 6, 2015.