Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has denied service connection for neck and low back disabilities, but has remanded the claim for acute pancreatitis due to its potential secondary relationship with a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development and readjudication due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the severity of his cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities prior to August 23, 2011.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is rated at 20 percent since October 4, 2019. The condition does not meet criteria for a higher rating as it does not result in forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 30 degrees or less.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and opinions. The issues include back disability, right eye disability, cerebrovascular disorder, and seizure disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, COPD, gastroesophageal reflux disease/Barrett's Syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and hypertension have been denied. The claim for hypertension is remanded due to secondary service connection.

Service connection is granted for a lumbar spine disability. The claim for service connection of residuals of malaria is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, and benign prostatic hyperplasia have been denied as they are not related to service.,The Veteran's claim for a back disorder is remanded due to the need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current low back disability is related to his active duty service, including physical exertion during laundry, stock, and deck duties. The VA examiner will provide an updated medical opinion on this issue.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection as his low back disability is not related to his military service and was not manifested within one year following separation from service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar-spine disorder, increased disability evaluation for left-lower-extremity varicose veins, and PTSD with insomnia have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of direct or secondary service connection for the lumbar-spine disorder, as it was less likely than not caused by or aggravated by service-connected left-lower-extremity varicose veins. For the other conditions, there was no evidence of chronic disease within one year post-service and no showing of aggravation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability is related to a pre-existing condition of minimal spina bifida occulta, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee and lumbar spine disabilities due to a lack of recent VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine and lower extremity radiculopathy were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of the disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability was denied. The current rating of 20 percent is based on forward flexion limited to 35-40 degrees with pain, and no ankylosis or IVDS.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating for spondylosis of the lumbar spine and an earlier effective date for PTSD have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for ischemic heart disease due to Agent Orange exposure is dismissed.,The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, right knee arthritis, degenerative arthritis of the left knee, lumbar strain, and tinnitus are all dismissed as they were granted with a final effective date of December 1, 2015.,The claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy due to Agent Orange exposure is denied because new and material evidence has not been received.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine was denied, with a 20% rating being granted effective January 2, 2019. The claim for increased hearing loss was also denied.

The Veteran's right and left sciatic nerve pain is not service-connected, as it is caused by his nonservice-connected degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The Veteran was employed prior to March 22, 2017, which precludes a TDIU at that time.

The Board has denied reopening of the claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus due to lack of new and material evidence. The claims for low back disability, stomach disability, skin rash, left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability are remanded for further development.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU based on service-connected disabilities other than MDD with PTSD, and SMC based on housebound status since April 7, 2010.