Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain was granted a 10 percent rating, but no higher, prior to May 10, 2013. The claim for increased ratings beyond this period is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional private medical records related to the Veteran's low back condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for higher staged ratings for his lumbar spine disorder, finding that the evidence did not reach equipoise as to whether he had functional impairment to warrant a higher rating at any point during the rating period.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence was received to warrant the readjudication of claims for service connection for a blood disability, back disability, and headaches. The claims are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, left and right lower extremity femoral neuritis, and left and right lower extremity sciatic neuritis on the basis that these conditions are related to the Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities. The compensable evaluation for a right knee scar is denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a back disability, neck disability, and myofascial pain syndrome of the chest wall have been denied. The Board found that these conditions are not related to his active service or secondary to any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's asthma is granted as service connected.,The Veteran's back condition is denied as not incurred in or related to service.,The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected.

The Veteran's headaches were rated at 30 percent prior to October 30, 2019 and granted a 50 percent rating thereafter. The Veteran is not entitled to an earlier effective date for TDIU or DEA benefits.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to determine if his current lumbar spine disability is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities, and whether it is aggravated by them.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as new and relevant evidence was not received to support the claims. The Veteran is also denied a rating in excess of the current assigned ratings for various conditions.

The May 1981 rating decision is reversed, and the Veteran is granted initial separate ratings for left upper extremity shell fragment wound residuals with Muscle Groups I and IV injury, left hand shell fragment wound residuals with Muscle Group IX injury, and lumbar area shell fragment wound residuals.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and right knee osteoarthritis, status-post total knee replacement. The conditions are deemed to have resulted from the Veteran's activities and injuries during active duty service.

The Veteran's headaches increased rating claim is dismissed as moot due to the assignment of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for his service-connected headaches.,SMC benefits are granted from March 20, 2014, given that the Veteran has a service-connected disability rated as total and additional disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent or more.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his lumbar spine and sleep apnea conditions, are found to be causally related to his psychiatric disorder. Effective dates for the grant of service connection for radiculopathy have been granted.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection for arthritis and back disability. The Veteran's claims are not related to exposure to burn pits, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, radiation, or Gulf War.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in a previous decision regarding service connection for a low back condition. The matter is now being reviewed again with an addendum opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for thoracic and lumbar spine disabilities due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional service treatment records from Germany. The Veteran's low back disorder is still under review.

The Board has granted service connection for back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and a compensable rating for vertigo as a manifestation of TBI. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for secondary service connection for low back disability due to a lack of adequate etiology opinions and new evidence regarding the severity of the Veteran's foot disabilities. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.