Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected chronic lumbar strain was found to not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to January 16, 2014.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's hearing loss and to verify his service dates, which may impact his lumbar spine disorder claim. The claims are being remanded for these purposes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his back disability, as the previous VA medical opinion was deficient in describing functional loss due to flare-ups.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent prior to June 20, 2018 and 40 percent from that date. The Board finds the evidence does not support a higher rating for any of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with retrolisthesis was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to April 3, 2019 and a rating in excess of 20 percent from April 3, 2019.,The Veteran's claim for extra-schedular consideration was also denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee, lumbar spine, cervical spine, and bilateral hip disabilities. The claim for hypertension is also remanded as it requires further development to determine its etiology.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with arthritis left sacroiliac joint associated with right leg below the knee amputation is being remanded due to incomplete development. The Board will complete any ongoing development and readjudicate the case.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to January 7, 2016 for cervical strain, left shoulder strain with degenerative changes, and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine as his service connection claims were not received within the required timeframe.

The Board has denied service connection for IBS and back disability, finding no current disability. The case is remanded to obtain a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's back disability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his right shoulder, left shoulder, and cervical spine disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s disability pictures do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar and cervical spine disabilities due to a lack of current examination evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and neck conditions due to insufficient evidence in the record, including a lack of STRs regarding these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, and low back disabilities due to a lack of clarity regarding clinical diagnoses. The Veteran is asked to undergo an examination to determine if his current knee and back problems are related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disorder, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, and TDIU due to in-service injuries and ongoing symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for low back strain with degenerative disc disease and sciatica of the right lower extremity due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for more contemporaneous medical examination.

The Board has granted service connection for several conditions, including lumbar spondylosis with DDD, radiculitis of the right and left lower extremities, right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, cervical spondylosis with DDD, residuals of a hip fracture, and denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2, sleep apnea, and hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left sciatic radiculopathy, lumbar degenerative disc disease, right hammer toes, and left hammer toes were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, finding that the Veteran's symptoms were chronic in service and continuous after service separation. The decision is based on presumptive service connection due to arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for headaches, low back disability, and right knee disability due to inadequate opinions in the VA addendum medical opinions. The Veteran will be afforded new VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar strain, headaches, left knee disability, and left elbow disability. Service connection is also granted on an aggravation basis for acne (preexisting condition) and groin rash. The Veteran's athlete’s foot and eczema claims are denied.