Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection was denied. The Board found that the current PTSD rating of 70 percent adequately reflects his impairment, while the lumbar strain rating of 10 percent is also appropriate given his symptoms. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was not granted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection is being remanded due to the inability of VA to conduct examinations as requested. The claims for vasomotor rhinitis and a back condition are both being remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, right shoulder, and left shoulder disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing that these conditions began during or are otherwise related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back condition, bilateral hip conditions, and left knee conditions due to his service-connected right knee condition. The reasons include insufficient medical opinions based on lack of contemporaneous records and failure to consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding overcompensating.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine, right shoulder, lumbar spine, and left leg disabilities due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and the identification of outstanding private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his back condition is pending.

The Veteran's service-connected DDD of the lumbar spine is granted at a 40 percent rating prior to May 8, 2015. Other conditions are remanded for further review.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder and left knee disorder, finding that these conditions are secondary to his service-connected pes planus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from May 1, 2010 to present.

The Board dismissed the appeal for a rating greater than 20 percent for lumbosacral degenerative joint disease as the appellant requested to withdraw his appeal.

The Veteran's back strain with intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbosacral spine is granted a 20 percent disability rating from July 23, 2018 to July 22, 2019. On and after July 23, 2019, he is granted a separate 10 percent rating for right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy associated with his service-connected back strain.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected right shoulder disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date and increased rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is denied. The effective date for service connection cannot be earlier than November 3, 2017 due to a prior final denial in July 1995. An initial increased rating in excess of 10 percent is also denied.

The Veteran's bilateral flat feet are related to his military service.,The Veteran’s right ankle disability, diagnosed as posterior tibial tendonitis and osteoarthritis, is related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of sleep apnea and initial increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, osteoarthritis of the right ankle, and GERD have been dismissed as his appeal was withdrawn by a valid written request.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection regarding his low back disorder and bilateral knee disorders must be remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. The VA will schedule the Veteran for examinations or medical opinions to determine if his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error regarding service connection for a back disability, including lumbar strain and degenerative disc disease. The Veteran's representative requested additional medical evidence from internet sources on disorders of the back.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including ankle, elbow, foot, hip, knee, shoulder, wrist, neck, back, GERD, hypertension, and eye conditions. The evidence did not show any in-service injury or incident that could be linked to these conditions.,There is no current evidence of a diagnosed disability related to the claimed ankle, elbow, foot, hip, knee, shoulder, wrist, neck, back, GERD, hypertension, or eye disabilities.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the Veteran's right shoulder, cervical spine, and lumbar spine disabilities. The Veteran is also entitled to special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status.