Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left leg disability and lumbar spine disability, both secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. Additional development is needed to clarify whether the Veteran currently has a leg length discrepancy and if his left leg cramping symptoms are related to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's low back condition, including degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and left lower extremity radiculopathy, is determined to be caused by his service-connected left knee disability. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity sciatic peripheral neuropathy due to service-connected right foot and right sural nerve disabilities. The Veteran's obesity is also being evaluated as it may have been caused or aggravated by his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms did not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent prior to November 13, 2019 and in excess of 70 percent thereafter.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction is remanded due to lack of an opinion on etiology.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus secondary to service-connected PTSD is remanded due to lack of an opinion on etiology.,Service connection for high cholesterol secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus is remanded due to lack of an opinion on etiology.,The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease was not rated higher than 40 percent prior to November 13, 2019 and in excess of 70 percent thereafter.,Service connection for left lower extremity femoral nerve peripheral neuropathy is remanded due to lack of an opinion on etiology.,Service connection for right lower extremity femoral nerve peripheral neuropathy is remanded due to lack of an opinion on etiology.,Service connection for left lower extremity sciatic nerve peripheral neuropathy is remanded due to lack of an opinion on etiology.,Service connection for right lower extremity neuralgia parenthetical is remanded due to lack of an opinion on etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including verification of his period of active service and medical treatment records spanning his incarceration.,Service connection is denied for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, chronic sinusitis, and headaches.

The Veteran's spondylosis, degenerative disc disease, and strain of the cervical spine are found to be related to service. Service connection is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and inadequate examinations, requiring further development.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his low back disability was denied. The RO assigned a 20 percent initial disability rating effective February 20, 2012, and the Board found no basis to assign a higher rating.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and heart disorder due to incomplete development, specifically lack of response to medical record requests. The Veteran needs to be provided with VA examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are all granted with increased initial ratings. Service connection for PTSD is also granted.

The Board denied service connection for a lower back disorder as there was no credible evidence of an in-service injury or disease, and the post-service symptoms were not related to service.

The Veteran's disability ratings for lumbosacral strain, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve, and chronic cephalgia were all increased. A TDIU was also granted.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease, finding that the April 2012 rating decision denying this condition was final and that the earliest possible effective date is April 16, 2019.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board has determined that a higher rating is warranted based on his symptoms. The right hip disorder and/or right knee arthritis are also being remanded for further review.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, and GERD have been granted initial ratings. The effective date for these grants is June 2, 2016.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because he did not file a timely VA Form 10182 within the required timeframe.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for back, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to new evidence of worsening symptoms.

The Board previously denied service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disorders. The case is being remanded to obtain updated medical opinions regarding whether these conditions were incurred in service.

The Board has granted a temporary total disability rating for convalescence following back surgeries from April 17, 2014 to July 3, 2014. The issues of whether reductions in the ratings for left shoulder disability and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity were proper are remanded due to new relevant VA examination reports.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a back condition, left knee condition, and right knee condition due to incomplete medical records and inadequate examination opinions. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all relevant VA and private medical records and schedule an appropriate VA examination.