Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of right knee, low back, and right hip disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing their onset during active service or being related to such.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and TDIU has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeals in February 2021.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, limitation of extension of left thigh, and left hip bursitis have been denied. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records from Moody Air Force Base.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including ratings for his right inguinal hernia repair and ankle strain. The Veteran also requested a TDIU rating due to his psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining an updated VA examination and a retrospective medical opinion addressing the severity of her lumbar spine disability. The matters are also remanded to determine whether she is eligible for TDIU based on her service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's DDD L5-S1 prior to January 31, 2019 is currently rated at 10 percent and denied an increased rating.,After January 31, 2019, the Veteran's DDD L5-S1 is rated at 20 percent and denied an increased rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability has been denied as he does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes.,The Veteran's claims for temporary total ratings for his bilateral feet hammertoes and residual scars disabilities, and dental disability, are also denied due to lack of hospitalization or convalescence.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a new medical opinion and consideration of entitlement to TDIU prior to March 13, 2009.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral spine, right foot, and left foot disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran is required to undergo further examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are deemed to meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant, but a VA examination is needed to determine her eligibility based on current functional impairment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of COPD with emphysema and a lumbar spine condition, finding no nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for acne and granted it. The case of service connection for tinnitus is remanded due to inadequate opinion regarding noise exposure in-service. Service connection for hearing loss and lumbar spine disability are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's back disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected plantar fasciitis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, acne with residual scarring, sleep apnea, tension headaches, left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, left knee degenerative joint disease, right shoulder tendinitis, lumbosacral spine degenerative arthritis, chronic right ankle strain, bilateral pes planus, right great toe injury, hypertension, left and right knee instability, and traumatic brain injury, have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment since June 11, 2012.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral degenerative disc disease, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine, left shoulder, and left hip disabilities due to insufficient reasons and bases in the September 2019 decision. The case is being returned for further development.

The Board has granted an initial 40 percent disability rating for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, effective from May 24, 2018. The decision is based on new evidence introduced in October 2018.