Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

The Veteran's low back and right hip disabilities are found to be secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The Veteran is granted a separate rating for limitation of extension, but not for flexion.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals on all issues related to his service connection claims due to a withdrawal of appeal by the Veteran.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 40 percent effective October 21, 2019. The Veteran also received a grant of TDIU.,The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy was granted initial ratings of 20 percent for the right leg and 20 percent for the left leg.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD as due to military sexual trauma (MST) and remanded the issue of service connection for a lumbar strain.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability and left knee disability due to pending higher-level review requests.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disorders, finding that there is not enough evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's hearing loss began in service. Service connection was denied for a low back disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, arthritis, dyspnea, heart disorder, COPD, sleep apnea, GERD, and back disorder are not related to his active duty service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service records and a need for further medical examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a low back disability and bladder disability due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's low back and bladder disabilities are being referred to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's lumbar sprain with degenerative disc disease was granted a 40 percent rating prior to June 27, 2018. The claim for an increased rating from that date onwards remains in appellate status.

The Veteran's back disability, which includes degenerative disc disease and post-surgery pain, is rated at 40 percent due to functional impairment. The rating reflects the Veteran's limited range of motion in his thoracolumbar spine.

The Board has remanded the case due to scheduling issues and a need for an examination to determine if the Veteran's current low back disability is related to service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, and the rating for his lower extremity radiculopathies remains at 10 percent. The Board denied a higher rating for these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for back, neck, bilateral neurologic disabilities of the lower and upper extremities, and a circulatory system disability, as there is no evidence that these conditions began during or are otherwise related to active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a back disability, finding that there was no evidence of chronic disease or injury during active duty and arthritis did not manifest within one year of separation. The appeal is based on direct service connection.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, neck disability, right knee disability, and PFB. The claims for sleep apnea are remanded as well.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants an initial rating of 70 percent, effective September 30, 2014. The Veteran's lumbar spondylosis warrants a rating of 70 percent, also effective September 30, 2014.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for asthma and a low back disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding whether these conditions were aggravated by service.