Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for her left upper arm disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbosacral spine disability, and left knee disability due to lack of evidence supporting a nexus between these conditions and her military service. The appeals are being remanded for further development.

The reduction in rating from 20 percent to 0 percent for bilateral hearing loss was improper and the 20 percent rating is restored. The Veteran's claims for service connection of a lumbar spine disability and left hip disability are remanded.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at a combined of 40 percent from November 8, 2017. The low back disability remains unresolved and needs further development.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his in-service injury and does not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for DDD of the lumbar spine, which is secondary to his service-connected left knee disability, has been reopened and granted.

The Veteran's chronic low back strain is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as his forward flexion does not reach the level necessary for a higher rating. The Veteran's TDIU claim was also denied due to lack of evidence showing he is unemployable.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease is being remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA examination. The case will be returned for further development, including scheduling a new examination.

The Board has remanded three issues related to the Veteran's lumbar strain, left shoulder derangement or impingement syndrome, and right leg/knee disability. The Veteran is seeking higher ratings for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a lower back condition and an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient medical evidence in the record.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back and left knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions in previous examinations. The VA is required to obtain additional evidence, including private treatment records, and provide new medical opinions addressing the etiology of the Veteran's conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal due to insufficient information regarding his service in the Puerto Rico Army National Guard, which is necessary for proper adjudication of all appealed issues.

The Veteran is seeking earlier effective dates for service connection awards and related benefits. The Board finds that additional evidence should be sought to support her claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for traumatic brain injury, bilateral hearing loss, right eye hyperphoria, lumbar spine disability, coronary artery disease, and pulmonary disorder are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records. The Veteran also has a compensable initial rating for his bilateral hearing loss from August 14, 2020.

The Veteran's appeals for left knee condition and right knee condition have been dismissed. The Board has remanded the issues of cervical spine with radiculopathy, lumbar spine condition, respiratory condition, glaucoma (claimed as secondary to respiratory condition), stomach ulcer, and GERD.

The Board has remanded the claims for a higher rating for the service-connected low back disability and TDIU due to inadequate examination in the prior appeal. A new VA examination is needed.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 10 percent prior to March 7, 2017. Service connection for low back disorder, left knee disorder, and bilateral hip disorder are denied as secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and inadequate prior medical opinions. The Veteran needs to provide authorization for VA to obtain her missing Air Force Reserve treatment records, as well as any relevant urgent care records from Norfolk in 1997. She also needs to undergo a VA examination to determine if her current back disability is related to service.

The Board denied service connection for low back and right hip disorders, finding that the evidence did not support a direct link to service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for thoracolumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, sleep apnea syndrome, and bilateral foot disability due to additional evidentiary development being required.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for PTSD and lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's skin condition and TDIU claim are also remanded.