Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and associated radiculopathy, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that he is entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and issuing an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's radiculopathy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral foot condition, lumbar spine disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), finding that there was no evidence of in-service aggravation or injury related to these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were all denied. The effective dates for the grants of service connection for PTSD and radiculopathy were also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to December 7, 2010.

The Veteran's lumbar myofascial syndrome was granted a disability rating of 20 percent prior to August 19, 2019.

The Board has remanded the claims for chest pain, low back condition, and left hand little finger condition due to inadequate consideration of relevant evidence in prior decisions.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed due to his request for withdrawal of all issues on appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to inadequate VA examinations and incomplete employment history.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, finding that there was no evidence of chronicity in service and no showing of continuity after discharge. The Board also found that the current lumbar spine disorder is not related to his service-connected right knee and right ankle disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease, generalized claimed as joint pain due to undiagnosed illness and other conditions. The appeal is based on previous decisions that have already considered these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for rhinitis, sleep apnea, and a low back condition. The claims for right knee pain, left knee pain, right ankle condition, left ankle condition, right shoulder condition, and right bicep condition are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities of the lumbar spine, cervical spine, left knee, right knee, right ankle, and peripheral neuropathy prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to December 2, 2016, and in excess of 40 percent from December 2, 2016, for a lumbar spine disability. The TDIU claim is also being remanded due to its interdependence with the increased rating claim.

The Board has remanded several claims related to the Veteran's service connection for various conditions, including low back pain with arthritis, right and left knee chondromalacia patellofemoral (claimed as arthritis), obstructive sleep apnea, pitting edema of the lower extremities, esophagitis and hiatal hernia with varices and GERD and aspiration pneumonia, and TBI. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased rating of PTSD, lumbar spine disability, and migraines due to incomplete or inconsistent medical opinions in the record.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to outstanding VA treatment records from the Columbia VA Medical Center.

The Board has determined that further action is needed to obtain additional VA treatment records and for the Veteran to provide any additional evidence pertinent to his claims. The claims are being remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's low back strain with pain and sacroiliitis with degenerative joint disease is currently rated at 20 percent, but the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions for VA purposes and therefore, service connection is denied.