Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to inadequate VA opinions regarding his left foot, left hip, low back, and left knee disabilities. The claims will be further evaluated with new medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a low back disability due to insufficient medical opinions and need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical evidence and conflicting opinions regarding his claimed disabilities. The VA is instructed to obtain all relevant records, including SSA records, and provide additional medical opinions on the origin of his heart disabilities and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating due to lack of forward flexion of more than 30 degrees or favorable ankylosis.,The Veteran's left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are both currently rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's claim for left knee calcific tendinitis, infrapatellar tendon was reopened and granted. Tinnitus and anxiety disorder were also granted.,Bilateral hearing loss, right and left knee disorders (including right knee posttraumatic residual degenerative joint disease), thoracolumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, and headaches (claimed as cephalgia) are all remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including residuals of heat stress and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient rationale in previous medical opinions and incomplete records. The Veteran's low back and neck disabilities are being reviewed again for a proper determination of service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased rating for lumbar spinal stenosis and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to inadequate examination results and incomplete forms.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for various knee disabilities, lumbar spine disability, and sciatic radiculopathy of the lower extremities. The appeals are dismissed or denied.

The Board has remanded the case for a new opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is proximately due to his service-connected dislocation of costo-sternal joint of 3rd and 4th ribs with costochondritis, or was aggravated by it.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back, left hip, and cervical spine disorders due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's sensory deficits of the sciatic nerve in both lower extremities are currently rated as 20 percent disabling, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.,The Veteran's left shoulder dislocation and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine (L5/S1) are also currently rated as 20 percent disabling, with no indication of any other service-connected conditions or exposure basis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions in the record regarding the relationship between his current disabilities and military service.

The Veteran's right ankle avulsion fracture is rated at 10 percent, and his thoracolumbar spinal stenosis with spinal fusion is rated at 20 percent. The issues of a compensable rating for bladder disturbance associated with the Veteran’s thoracolumbar spine disorder and entitlement to TDIU are remanded.,The Veteran's right ankle avulsion fracture remains rated at 10 percent, while his thoracolumbar spinal stenosis is rated at 20 percent. The issues of a compensable rating for bladder disturbance associated with the Veteran’s thoracolumbar spine disorder and entitlement to TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder is granted. For the entire appeal period, his IBS was rated at 10 percent and his low back strain with lumbar degenerative disc disease was rated as 10 percent prior to January 22, 2020, and 20 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's PTSD with dysthymic disorder was not found to cause total social impairment at any time during the appeal period.,For the period of the claim prior to January 15, 2020, the thoracolumbar spine disability did not meet the criteria for a higher than 10 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back, neck, left elbow, and occipital headaches disabilities secondary to the service-connected right knee disability due to insufficient medical opinions in the March 2018 remand. The Veteran's statements regarding a fall in 2009 after his right knee gave out are to be considered.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination reports and the need for a retrospective opinion regarding the severity of the lumbar spine disability prior to October 15, 2015.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain prior to July 28, 2016, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter due to insufficient examination findings.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, which include PTSD, lumbar strain, right knee strain with degenerative arthritis, left knee strain with degenerative arthritis, right knee limitation of extension, left knee limitation of extension, and right hip strain. The combined effect of these conditions has rendered the Veteran unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.