Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted TDIU for the period from February 7, 2018 to May 31, 2018.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with spondylosis was granted a disability rating of 20 percent from October 29, 2018. The initial appeal for an increased rating was denied.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain was rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations.,Service connection for bilateral eye disorder was denied as it is not shown to be caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disability, right lower extremity neuropathy, and left lower extremity neuropathy, finding that these conditions had their onset in service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee and low back disabilities, as well as left knee and right ankle disabilities secondary to these conditions. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and cardiovascular disabilities have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various hip, foot, and knee conditions. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.,There are no medical opinions linking any of these conditions to service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available for this condition.,The Veteran's right hip injury is currently rated at 20 percent, which is also the maximum schedular rating available for this condition.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, fibromyalgia, and a low back disability has been granted. The claims are now remanded for further development.,Service connection is being granted for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to scheduling issues and a hospitalization during the last scheduled VA examination. The Veteran is required to have VA examinations rescheduled.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for abrasion right leg is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied due to lack of evidence of a disability during service and post-service. The Veteran has not been provided with an examination related to this issue.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted based on in-service exposure to noise and the Veteran's report of onset during service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lower back disorder, finding that it is aggravated by his service-connected right ankle disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's low back disability, specifically focusing on the period since September 2019.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of a low back disability due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its relationship to active service. The Veteran contends his current back disabilities are related to an in-service motor vehicle accident, but the VA examiner's opinion is based solely on lack of in-service evidence without considering the Veteran's reports and symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension but denied claims for lumbosacral strain (low back disability) and right knee joint osteoarthritis, finding that the evidence does not support a link to active service.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left hand disability due to his withdrawal. The remaining issues have been remanded, including back, neck, right shoulder, right knee, right ankle, and left hip disabilities.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is granted as secondary to his service-connected right shoulder and back disabilities.,The Veteran's right ankle disability is granted as related to active service.,The Veteran's left ankle disability is granted as related to active service.

The Veteran's low back disability was granted an initial rating of 40 percent prior to April 17, 2019. The VA found that the Veteran's symptoms most closely approximated forward flexion of the spine at 30 degrees or less.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lower back disorder and headaches, as additional development is required.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability alone prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, leading to a TDIU rating effective May 1, 2021.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease and strain, as well as an effective date prior to March 6, 2018, for TDIU based on service-connected disabilities, are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.