Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

The Board has dismissed the issue of service connection for myopia due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The remaining issues have been remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder and secondary service connection for a right lower extremity disorder. Service connection for a left lower extremity disorder is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and lumbar spine disorder, render her unable to maintain substantially gainful employment consistent with her education and occupational background.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, finding that new and relevant evidence submitted by the Veteran supports this decision. The disability is presumed to have started during service.

The Veteran's right knee residuals status post total knee replacement resulted in a preexisting condition being aggravated by VA medical treatment, warranting an effective date of January 10, 2011 for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Veteran's service connection claims for allergies, a lumbar spine disability, right leg and left leg disabilities, diabetes mellitus type II (DMII), endometriosis, headaches, multiple sclerosis (MS), right shoulder strain, and an ear disability have been denied. The Board has found that the preponderance of evidence is against finding a link between these conditions and service.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence supports readjudication of the claims for service connection for allergies, chest pains, headaches, sleep problems, low back disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, and right knee disability.,New evidence includes VA treatment records indicating diagnoses such as insomnia, anxiety, migraines, adjustment disorder with depression, and PTSD. The Veteran's history of service-related symptoms is also relevant.

The Veteran's service connection claims for allergies, a lumbar spine disability, right leg disability, left leg disability, diabetes mellitus type II (DMII), endometriosis, headaches, multiple sclerosis (MS), and right shoulder strain have all been denied.,Service connection has been granted for the Veteran's diagnosed right shoulder pinched nerve.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine prior to May 7, 2013 was denied. A 40 percent rating is granted since that date. The claims for increased ratings for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities were also denied.

Your appeal has been dismissed as the Veteran died during the pendency of this case.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for his service-connected thoracolumbar strain is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and updated medical records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling new VA examinations, and considering the impact of flare-ups on her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for back disorder, left sciatica, and left hip disorder as there is no evidence to support a direct relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's military service or his service-connected left ankle arthritis with tendinosis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left shoulder and back disabilities, as well as entitlement to a TDIU, are being remanded due to inadequate examination reports.,A VA medical opinion is needed regarding the nature of the Veteran's DDD and LLE disabilities and their relationship to his service-connected back disability.

The Board denied ratings in excess of 20 percent for a back disability and denied ratings in excess of 10 percent for left elbow disabilities at all times during the appeal.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that her combined rating of 70% or more makes it at least as likely as not that she is unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability evaluation for residuals of a low back injury with degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine is denied as his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating based on limitation of motion or functional loss.

The Veteran's appeal of a compensable rating for a back scar was withdrawn. A 20 percent rating, but no more, was granted for lumbar DDD prior to December 9, 2014 and March 27, 2017. The claim for a higher rating since March 27, 2017 is denied. Service connection for insomnia is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding service connection for lumbosacral strain. The right foot and left foot disabilities are denied as there is no current evidence of a disability or relationship to service.