Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has withdrawn the appeal for service connection of a right foot disorder and has remanded the issue of service connection for a low back disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran is also required to undergo a VA examination to assess the severity of his left thigh disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his request prior to a decision being made. The claims for increased ratings for back disability, right knee and left knee disabilities, and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for back disability, neck disability (as secondary to back disability), right knee disability (as secondary to back disability), and left knee disability (as secondary to back disability) due to outstanding VA medical records from Des Moines, Iowa VAMC.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for his service-connected back disability is granted, but the case is remanded for further development regarding TDIU and service connection for cause of death.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining STRs from his Navy Reserve service and private medical records. The claims are being remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability (arthritis) is granted service connection. Service connection for kidney disorder (claimed as kidney cancer), hypertension, and residuals, head laceration are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot disability, back disability, and acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD), but has remanded her claim for traumatic brain injury/neurocognitive disability due to lack of evidence.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection of a gastrointestinal disorder (claimed as IBS) because it has been granted and rendered moot. The claims for increased ratings for left knee tendonitis, right knee tendonitis, and thoracolumbar strain are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to December 31, 2014. From December 31, 2014, the criteria for TDIU were not met.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied service connection for right knee and low back disabilities.

The Veteran's right shoulder, lumbar and thoracic spine, left ankle, OSA, and hypertension conditions were denied as service connection due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,Service connection was remanded for TBI, GERD, and traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but has remanded the issue of service connection for lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine degenerative joint disease disability is being remanded for further evaluation as the Veteran testified that his condition has increased in severity since his last VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a left ankle disability and remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating increase are remanded due to the need for updated examinations and additional medical records.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to substantiate the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a c-section, low back disorder, and hypertension. The case is being remanded to obtain missing service treatment records and to schedule VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and cervical spine, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion in a previous decision. The Veteran's low back disability, including degenerative arthritis of the spine and lumbar spondylosis, is now subject to further review with additional evidence and a new medical opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for right wrist, low back, and neck disabilities. Service connection is denied for dermatitis and bilateral feet hallux valgus.