Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence and need further evaluation. The appeals for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including low back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral hip disabilities, have rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU claim.

The Board denied a rating higher than 10 percent as of June 12, 2012, and higher than 20 percent as of September 12, 2014, for a lumbar spine disability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of a back disorder due to insufficient evidence in the record, particularly regarding the relationship between his current back disability and his active service. The case will be returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and an initial rating higher than 20 percent for his lumbosacral strain.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back and neck disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of in-service onset or a relationship to service.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's low back disorder. The Veteran is currently unrepresented, so he needs to be rescheduled for the examination.

The Veteran's lumbar spine DDD and radiculopathy were rated, with some issues granted higher ratings. The prostatitis and duodenal ulcer cases are pending further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee and lumbar spine disorders.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a low back disability has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia with headaches was granted a 40% rating for the entire period on appeal. The TDIU claim prior to February 28, 2011 is also granted.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and opinion regarding service connection for various conditions, including a bilateral foot disorder, low back disorder, and bilateral leg disorder.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and a back disability were denied as there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for new VA examinations and opinions regarding his PTSD, hearing loss, tinnitus, and back condition. The claims are not about service connection via a presumption like PACT Act/Agent Orange/Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's DDD of the thoracic spine is granted as a result of it manifesting to a degree of at least 10% within one year of service separation, and he had active service for more than 90 days. The T-8 fracture preexisted service but did not aggravate during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence in the service treatment records and a need for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current back disability is related to her service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine disorder, and cervical spine disorder due to a lack of VA treatment records from after service discharge. The Veteran testified that his symptoms began shortly after service discharge.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and left foot reflex sympathetic dystrophy were both denied increased ratings.,Both conditions are currently rated at 10 percent, effective April 24, 2008.

The Veteran's DJD of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 20 percent, effective March 14, 2013. The Board denied a higher rating as his forward flexion was limited to 85 degrees and his combined range of motion for the thoracolumbar spine was limited to 205 degrees, which does not meet the criteria for a 40 percent rating (which requires limitation of flexion to 30 degrees or favorable ankylosis).

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his low back disability is dismissed because the Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal.