Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development and need for additional opinions regarding service connection for low back disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions. The issues include right shoulder condition, left ankle condition, costochondritis, degenerative disc disease, and sinusitis.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathy were denied increased ratings. The Veteran was granted a 40% rating for the lumbar spine disability effective November 29, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA examination. The issues will be reconsidered after additional development.

The Veteran's hypertension and ED are not rated higher than non-compensable.,Tension headaches are rated at 30 percent, but the Veteran does not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his spondylosis L5-S1 with degenerative disc disease was denied, but he received a separate 20 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, right knee arthritis, left knee and ankle arthritis, and hip injury are rated at 20 percent for the entire rating period.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient range of motion findings and potential flare-ups.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a seizure disability, back disability, and asthma. The evidence now shows that these conditions existed prior to service and were not aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a back disability, hiatal hernia (claimed as gastroesophageal reflux disease), and gastric ulcer due to conflicting information regarding the onset of symptoms and lack of medical opinions on the etiology.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for her L5-S1 degenerative disc disease is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and consideration of flare-ups.

The claim for an initial compensable evaluation for inguinal hernia, left is dismissed. The claim for service connection for a back disability is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability had its onset during active service, and therefore grants his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity radiculopathies are granted at 60 percent ratings, effective June 24, 2019. The Veteran’s back disability is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, finding that her scoliosis was congenital and not aggravated by service. The Board also denied a higher rating for chronic urinary tract infections.,The Board found no evidence of recurrent symptomatic infection requiring drainage/frequent hospitalization or continuous intensive management for the Veteran's chronic UTIs.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his previously denied claim of service connection for a low back disability. The evidence now shows that the Veteran's current low back disability is related to an in-service injury, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there is relative equipoise in the evidence regarding whether his current condition was incurred during active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further assistance from VA, including scheduling a DRO hearing.

The Veteran's bladder condition, including neurogenic bladder, is granted as secondary to his service-connected low back disability. The rating for mechanical low back pain from April 20, 2013, remains at 20 percent.

The Board granted a 10 percent rating for one painful surgical scar associated with the lumbar spine disability from April 4, 2016 to August 9, 2020. A 20 percent rating was granted beginning August 10, 2020.