Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's increased rating claim for his service-connected lumbosacral spine strain, degenerative disc disease, and disc protrusion due to outstanding medical evidence. The TDIU issue is also being returned to the AOJ as it is inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted.,A disability rating of 20 percent is assigned for the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, effective prior to April 17, 2019.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and right hip disability, but granted service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy.,Right lower extremity radiculopathy is considered secondary to the Veteran's pre-existing back condition.

The Veteran's claim to reopen entitlement to service connection for a low back disability is granted. The issue of whether the Veteran's current low back disability is related to his active service or his service-connected left ankle disability is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including lumbar arthritis, left knee degenerative joint disease, right knee strain, and left big toe hallux limitus, have significantly interfered with his employment. The Board finds that referral to the Director, Compensation Service, for extraschedular consideration is warranted prior to October 11, 2016.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left knee condition, right knee condition, back condition, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus due to incomplete or inadequate medical opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his left wrist and left wrist scar disabilities have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for initial compensable disability rating for residuals of a left wrist surgical scar, hypertension, lumbar spine disability, and left knee disability have been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for gout, lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability have been remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Board found that the current evidence does not support granting these claims.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 70 percent disabling, and the Board has remanded for further development.,Service connection for right shoulder arthritis was granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of low back disability, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to incidents in service. The Board noted that the episodes of back pain during service were acute and self-limited, and did not result in a chronic condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to inadequate examinations used in previous decisions. The cases are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar strain and left hamstring strain, as well as his claim for TDIU, were denied by the Board. The decision found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating criteria.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his low back disability is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete examination and lack of complete treatment records. The appellant's claim for service connection for a back disability is being reviewed, with particular attention to whether it is secondary to his service-connected duodenal ulcer.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disorders due to a lack of adequate examination regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for ischemic heart disease, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for a back disability. The appeal for service connection for basal cell carcinoma is remanded.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU based on his service-connected degenerative changes of the lumbar spine and associated radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities prior to January 15, 2010.,The Veteran's Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) claim for the period from December 30, 2005 to June 2, 2008 is also granted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for tinnitus, lower back condition, and acquired psychiatric condition due to incomplete development of records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability due to insufficient evidence and need for further development. The case will be returned to the Board after additional examination and consideration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is related to his service-connected left knee disability, and thus granted service connection for this condition.,The Board found no evidence of a direct relationship between the Veteran's lower back disability and his service-connected left knee disability. The Board denied service connection for the lower back disability.