Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Veteran's back disability is not service-connected, and his right foot plantar fibromatosis is rated at 10% prior to June 1, 2014, and 20% thereafter.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability, tinnitus, and degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine have been granted service connection. The initial rating for tinnitus has been increased to 40 percent, effective January 31, 2017. The effective date for service connection for back disability is set at January 31, 2017.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to inadequate opinions in previous examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the knees and thoracolumbar spine, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's increased ratings for various orthopedic disabilities, including low back strain, right knee osteoarthritis, left knee degenerative joint disease, and right ankle degenerative joint disease are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA medical examination reports and legally incorrect grounds in the previous decision. The case is now pending with further development required.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, bilateral shoulder, and lumbar spine disabilities have been granted. The claim for service connection for dizziness is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions in the previous examinations. The Veteran is seeking service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and residuals from an in-service head injury, including TBI.

The Veteran's chronic lumbar strain is now rated at 40 percent effective November 30, 2017. Radiculopathy of the left lower extremity remains rated at 10 percent and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is rated at 10 percent as of December 16, 2019.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability with sciatica, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct relationship between his current condition and his military service. The Board also found insufficient evidence to establish secondary service connection due to his service-connected left great toe and foot disabilities.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a left shoulder disability, with the latter potentially secondary to the former. The case is being remanded due to incomplete records from his period of active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a below-the-knee amputation and multiple joint issues, have resulted in the loss of use of both lower extremities. The Board has ordered further development to determine if these conditions meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of major depressive disorder, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, and low back disability have been denied as there is no indication that the Veteran wished to file a claim prior to September 7, 2012, June 26, 2012, or June 26, 2012 respectively.,The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of right and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been denied as the prior rating decision implicitly denied these conditions when granting a higher rating for his low back disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disorder and diabetes mellitus due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The claims will be reviewed again with consideration of this new evidence.

The Board has denied a non-initial compensable rating for osteoporosis of the thoracic spine and has remanded the issue of total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The Veteran's symptoms are related to her lumbosacral DDD and spine arthritis, which was service-connected after this increased rating appeal was perfected.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU from November 12, 2004 to August 1, 2010 due to his service-connected back disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions. The issues include hypertension, low back disability including osteoporosis and degenerative disc disease (DDD), coronary artery disease, and sciatica of the bilateral lower extremities.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected traumatic arthritis of the lumbar spine and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity was denied. However, a separate rating of 20 percent for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity from June 29, 2017 onwards is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbosacral strain with lumbar degenerative joint disease and TDIU is remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Veteran is unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, including bipolar disorder and physical impairments.