Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claim for service connection for HPV was reopened, granted. Service connection for HPV was also granted. The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis received a 30 percent evaluation from October 1, 2019 onward.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain has been rated at 20 percent since February 25, 2009. The effective date of this rating is granted.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar strain with degenerative changes is granted a disability rating of 40 percent effective April 14, 2021. Service connection for MDD as secondary to service-connected disabilities is also granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for thoracolumbar spine disability and cervical spine disability due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their relationship to service.

The Board denied an extension of a temporary total evaluation for convalescence following surgery on August 26, 2009 due to lumbosacral degenerative disc disease (DDD). The Veteran's need for convalescence beyond November 30, 2009 was not supported by the evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions do not preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, and right knee disability. The claims were reopened due to new evidence provided by the Veteran.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disability and remanded the issues of service connection for a left hip disability. The case is being sent back to obtain medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's lumbar spine disability was incurred during or as a result of her periods of active service, and whether it is at least as likely as not that the current left hip disability had its clinical onset during service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his back disability was denied, and the effective date for TDIU was set at November 30, 2010. The Veteran's right and left lower extremity radiculopathy were each granted an initial 20% rating.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine is remanded due to the need for a more contemporaneous examination.

The Board has granted service connection for trochanteric pain syndrome of the left hip, right hip, and lumbosacral strain as secondary to service-connected PTSD on an aggravation basis.,Service connection was also granted for diabetes mellitus and hypertension as secondary to service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to July 17, 2012.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for low back pain, finding that it is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination regarding the nature, cause, and etiology of the Veteran's back condition. The examiner is asked to provide opinions on whether his back condition is related to service or his service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the service connection claims for low back disorder and sciatic nerve disorder, as they are inextricably intertwined. The case will be remanded for further medical opinions and development.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, including lumbago, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not attributable to his military service and arthritis of the lumbar spine was not manifest within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's back disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that there is not substantial compliance with previous remand directives regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection. Another remand is required to verify his periods of duty status during his USAR service, particularly from 1968 to 1990. The VA must also obtain an addendum opinion on the date of onset and relationship to service for the Veteran's diagnosed bilateral shoulder conditions and neck condition.

Service connection for right knee, left knee, lumbar spine, and obstructive sleep apnea degenerative joint disease is denied.,The Veteran's service records do not show any in-service events, injuries, or diseases that could have led to these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant through his representative, and as a result, the appeal is dismissed.