Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development regarding his claims of increased ratings and TDIU, including consideration of new VA treatment records received after the October 2020 supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for left eye injury and acquired psychiatric disorder due to new evidence received since their last denial.,However, both issues are remanded as there is insufficient medical evidence to determine if service connection can be granted.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to incomplete VA lumbar spine examination. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with his increased rating claim.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a low back disorder was dismissed due to his death, as the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to various procedural and evidentiary issues, including obtaining private treatment records and conducting a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea and a neck disability, to include degenerative disc disease, due to inadequate VA opinions in prior remands.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional VA examinations and opinions to assess the severity of his service-connected knee and back disabilities, including addressing prior range of motion measurements.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with psychotic features resulted in occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70 percent disability rating.,Prior to March 21, 2019, the Veteran met the schedular requirements for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee DJD and remanded the issues of increases in ratings for lumbar disc bulge, left knee DJD, and a compensable rating for left leg cellulitis.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine condition and bilateral pes planus, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease that could be linked to these conditions.,Service connection was also denied for a right ankle condition as the Veteran's current disability is not shown to have been caused by his service-connected right ankle condition.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and service connection claims due to a withdrawal of appeal by his authorized representative.

The Veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 40 percent effective August 2, 2017. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to this date.,The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is currently rated at 30 percent effective March 18, 2019. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to this date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted. The Board also remanded the cases for further development and readjudication.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, right hip, left hip, bilateral foot, and sleep disorders due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's lumbar strain with spondylosis is granted a 40 percent rating, and his right and left lower extremity radiculopathies are denied ratings in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and a left foot disorder have been denied as there is no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after active duty service, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that they are related to military service.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder and low back disability were granted initial ratings of 10%, 40% prior to May 18, 2010, respectively. Service connection for TDIU was also granted. The left ear hearing loss disability is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, and bilateral knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions in the June 2021 VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to June 1, 2010. The Board finds that a TDIU is warranted for this period.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic low back disorder and a bilateral knee disorder, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.