Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, anxiety (acquired psychiatric disorder), right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, right elbow disorder, back disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, tinnitus, and headache disorder have all been denied. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities or a link to active duty service.,The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, anxiety (acquired psychiatric disorder), right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, right elbow disorder, back disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, tinnitus, and headache disorder are all denied. The evidence does not show current disabilities or a link to active duty service.

The Board has determined that additional development is required before appellate review for the issues of entitlement to service connection for various cardiovascular conditions, obstructive sleep apnea, respiratory disorder (claimed asthma), urinary disorder, and low back disorder. These matters are REMANDED.,The Veteran's claims for severance of service connection for dyshidrotic eczema were also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional development is needed due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and opinions to determine the severity of his service-connected conditions, including whether they are related to his lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's alopecia is rated at 20 percent effective February 27, 2019. The other conditions have been granted service connection.

The appeal for service connection of a low back disability is dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine condition is at least as likely as not related to his military service, granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and right knee strain were granted. The claim for left knee strain was denied. The back condition is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal disabilities, including low back strain, bilateral patellar tendonitis, bilateral trapezius strains (claimed as shoulder disorders), bilateral hip disorder, and bilateral ankle disorder. The VA is instructed to obtain additional medical records and arrange for a comprehensive orthopedic examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to February 3, 2017 did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back disability, which is currently considered service-connected.

The appeal of the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is dismissed.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there was no evidence of current bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes.,An effective date earlier than May 24, 2012, for the grant of TDIU is denied because the Veteran did not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU prior to that date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent prior to January 15, 2018, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter, for lumbosacral strain. Additionally, the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is also remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of left inner-ear condition, type I decompression sickness (DCS) of the right elbow, and residuals of type II cerebral DCS. The right knee injury and degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the lumbar spine are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was denied as his range of motion did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's migraines are secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including back disability, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, pes planus, right and left ankle disabilities, sinusitis, asthma, and an acquired psychiatric disability. The remand requires obtaining additional medical records and opinions regarding these conditions.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's low back disability is not service-connected, and remands the case for further development to address the issues of service connection and secondary service connection.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a link between current back problems and service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability was denied in August 2018, but the RO granted it in August 2019. The Board dismissed the appeal as there is no case or controversy left to consider.