Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus and bone spurs were not incurred or aggravated by service, as the evidence does not show an increase in severity beyond normal progression.,Service connection for a left arm disability (lumbar spine) is remanded to determine if it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected knee and foot disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examination and adjudication of his claims, including a claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include PTSD, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and lumbar spine disorder.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied, and the effective dates for benefits were not established.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran and a request for AOJ review. A VA examination is needed to determine if any current low back disability is related to an injury, event, or disease during active duty.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability, but denied service connection for pes planus, Raynaud's disease, and neck disability. The low back disability is considered to be directly related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for increased ratings of his service-connected back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, leading to the dismissal of these appeals.

The Veteran's appeals for a compensable disability rating for laceration of the right hand, and for whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen claims for left ankle disability and low back disability are dismissed. The claim for service connection for neck disability is denied as no new and material evidence was submitted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's low back disability, including service treatment records and post-service medical records. The Veteran needs to provide authorization for release of his incarceration medical records and undergo a VA examination to determine if his current low back disability is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and a back disorder, as these conditions are alleged to be secondary to his service-connected left knee and/or left ankle disabilities.,Further examination is needed to determine if there is any link between the Veteran's current right knee and back disorders and his service-connected left knee and/or left ankle disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection for a lumbar spine disorder. The initial rating and TDIU claims related to bipolar disorder prior to April 6, 2015 have been granted.

The Board denied service connection for low back pain and upper back pain (DDD with severe spondylosis cervical, C5, C6, and C7) as these conditions were not incurred during military service or are related to such service.,A claim of entitlement to service connection for asthma was reopened due to the submission of new evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, left leg radiculopathy, and left shoulder impingement syndrome with rotator cuff tendonitis and degenerative joint disease due to inadequate examinations in determining their severity.

The Board has decided that the claims for service connection for a back disorder, erectile dysfunction, and hypogonadism are remanded due to the need for additional evidence. The Veteran's claim file must be updated with recent medical records, particularly those from before 2010.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, low back condition, bilateral hip condition, and fibromyalgia as the appellant did not have an injury during INACDUTRA that caused these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection was granted for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, diagnosed as DDD, lumbar spinal stenosis, spondylosis, degenerative disc syndrome, and degenerative arthritis of the spine.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of her cervical spine, thoracic spine, left knee, shin splints, and hip disabilities. The VA will provide additional examinations to address these issues.

The Veteran's appeal of an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left elbow disability is dismissed.,A separate 10 percent rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity associated with lumbosacral strain is granted, effective July 11, 2014.,Effective July 11, 2014, but no earlier, a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted for unspecified depressive disorder and lumbosacral strain.

The appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for PTSD is granted. The appeals to reopen claims of service connection for a low back disability and bipolar disorder are denied.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's back disorder, right hip disabilities, and left hip disabilities are all remanded for further development.