Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine arthritis, right hip strain, and left hip strain as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disabilities. Effective dates of November 17, 2016, March 16, 2017, and March 16, 2017 have been granted for sleep apnea, right knee arthritis, and right knee instability respectively.

The Veteran's current left knee strain, right knee degenerative joint disease, and lumbar spine degenerative joint disease are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's neck disability is denied as not incurred in or related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining service treatment records, addressing the propriety of a reduction in rating, scheduling VA examinations, and attempting to obtain medical records from non-VA providers.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee condition, head injury, left knee strain, and right ankle strain have been denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ankle strain has been remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for thoracolumbar strain has also been remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and a rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spine disability due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for lumbar strain prior to August 21, 2017 was denied as he did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on his range of motion and severity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back, bilateral knee, left hip, and bilateral foot disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active duty.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathies were denied. The Board found that the current evaluations met the criteria under the General Formula of 38 C.F.R. § 4.71a, Diagnostic Code 5243.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU since February 16, 2011. His combined rating of 80% effectively grants his claim.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than September 20, 2017, for the grant of service connection for tinnitus is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied. The maximum schedular rating authorized under Diagnostic Code 6260 has already been assigned.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and effective dates have been dismissed. The Board also found that the Veteran is entitled to a TDIU from November 18, 2015 through January 24, 2017 due to his service-connected PTSD and major depressive disorder with secondary alcohol abuse.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeal for reversal of the discontinuation of reduced work tolerance (RWT) VR&E services and remanded to determine if retroactive induction into RWT VR&E services from January 2019 is warranted.

The Veteran's claims for left-ear hearing loss and right-ear hearing loss have been granted. Claims for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left shoulder disorder, low back disorder, and acquired mental disorder (PTSD) are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are not related to his active service.,There is no evidence of any in-service injury or event resulting in these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU have been remanded due to the need for further review of submitted evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for thoracolumbar spine spondylosis and degenerative arthritis, finding that the conditions originated during active service.

The Veteran seeks earlier effective dates for his service-connected radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities. The Board finds that records from Southwest Medical Associates, Dudley Chiropractic, and Nevada Orthopedic & Spine Center may contain relevant information to support an earlier effective date.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete VA medical opinions and requests a new examination.