Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions. The issues of service connection for various knee, back, and shoulder disorders are being remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU appeal is granted. The issue of service connection for left ear hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's initial increased rating claim for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with IVDS was dismissed, while his PTSD claim and TDIU claim were both granted.,For the appeal period prior to April 8, 2014, the Veteran received a 70 percent rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, hernia residuals, lumbar spine DDD, sciatic radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities are all remanded due to incomplete development. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD and low back sprain have been granted initial maximum ratings of 100 percent each, effective from the date of the March 2014 rating decision.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient reasoning in its previous decision and the need for a retrospective medical opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability prior to August 13, 2018.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is service-connected, but has remanded for further examination and development regarding her low back disability, acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, and heart disability claims.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities. The Veteran's psychiatric condition is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to his service-connected spinal conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and a right hip disability, both secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left hip disability.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's thoracolumbar strain (low back disability) as it did not meet the criteria for a higher than 20 percent evaluation.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that it is as likely as not related to his military service and specifically to his service-connected left knee disability. The decision resolves doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient proof of actual herbicide exposure. The Veteran's multiple myeloma and other disabilities are being reviewed again, with a request for an addendum opinion from the January 2018 VA examiner regarding the relationship between his lumbar spine disability and treatment for multiple myeloma.

The Board has granted service connection for back disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder. The Veteran's current diagnoses of scoliosis, spondylosis, and bilateral knee strain are considered in determining the relationship to service.,Service connection is denied for an intestinal disorder as there is no current diagnosis.

The Veteran's back disability, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have been granted service connection. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have not been granted service connection.,Service connection for the Veteran's back disability is granted as it is etiologically related to his service. Service connection for left lower extremity and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are also granted as they are caused by his back disability.

The Board denied the claim of entitlement to DIC based on service connection for cause of death, finding that neither service-connected PTSD nor any other service-connected disorder was a principal or contributory cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render her unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, thus denying her claim for TDIU.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine. The case is remanded to determine if he is entitled to service connection for degenerative joint disease in all joints except for the lumbar spine.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluation, service connection, and TDIU due to outstanding issues related to his left knee, lumbar spine disorder, and residuals of a lipoma. The Veteran must be provided with VA examinations to assess the severity of these conditions and their relationship to service.

The Board denied service connection for frostbite residuals, blackouts with loss of consciousness, right knee disorder, left ankle disorder, low back disorder, and headaches. The case is remanded for an updated examination of the Veteran's forehead scar.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and opinions to address the severity of her service-connected right knee disability, left knee limitation of flexion, and urinary incontinence as a possible neurological manifestation.