Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for bilateral plantar fasciitis and lumbar back strain with spondylosis and arthritis have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a new examination.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's initial ratings for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine and hearing loss of the left ear were denied. The case is remanded to schedule new examinations for both conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability for the purpose of retroactive benefits on the basis of substitution, finding that there is continuity of symptomatology linking a condition noted in service to the current disability.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability should be remanded for further development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claims for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as lumbosacral strain with degenerative spurring L1 and L2. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability claim is also being remanded due to incomplete records from University of Utah Health Care.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability, including osteoarthritis/degenerative disc disease, had its onset in service and is related to his active military service aboard a U.S. naval vessel. As such, the claim for service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his military service. The evidence showed no chronicity of symptoms in service and no post-service treatment until many years after separation.,The Board also denied service connection for a left knee disability, noting that there was no chronicity of symptoms in service and no post-service treatment until many years after separation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including old compression fracture with degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and left lower extremity radiculopathy, are being remanded for further development to determine their current severity.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, tinnitus, and hearing loss has been remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine disability, right hip strain, and IBS with urinary incontinence secondary to bilateral knee disabilities on a causation basis.,However, the issue of entitlement to service connection for right big toe disability remains pending as no VA examiner has provided an opinion regarding its relationship to service-connected knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a back disorder is granted, and his claims for increased evaluations for left knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, as well as his request for an earlier effective date for a 30% rating for his acquired psychiatric disability. The criteria for higher ratings were not met.

The Veteran's left shoulder, low back, and psoriasis disabilities have been granted service connection. However, the acquired psychiatric disorders (bipolar disorder and PTSD) and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to the low back disability are still under review.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to concerns about the competency of VA examiners who conducted certain examinations in March 2015 and February 2017. The AOJ is instructed to secure additional credentialing information for these examiners.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for tinnitus was denied as he is already in receipt of the maximum schedular disability rating. The Board found that remand was warranted for additional development and examination regarding his right knee, right knee scars, back, bilateral shoulder disabilities, right hip, and sensorineural hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for IBS, upper gastrointestinal disorder (hiatal hernia and GERD), fibromyalgia, and low back disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to her active military service or due to her service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee condition, left knee condition, and back condition due to incomplete medical records from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The Veteran will need a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his bilateral knee and back disabilities.