Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to additional relevant evidence being associated with the Veteran's claims file. The issues of service connection for back disability and entitlement to a TDIU are now pending.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development due to a lack of compliance with prior remand instructions regarding a VA examination by a neurosurgeon.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for thoracolumbar strain prior to January 1, 2012 has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal.

The Board has restored a 20 percent rating for scoliosis with lumbosacral strain, finding that the reduction from 20 percent to 10 percent was not proper due to lack of improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a low back disability was dismissed due to his death before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and incomplete information about his periods of active duty service. The claims will be reviewed again with additional development.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination to assess his ability to work given his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbar spine brace causes wear and tear to his clothing, which qualifies him for a clothing allowance for the 2019 calendar year.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for lumbosacral strain, and service connection for left shoulder impingement syndrome with rotator cuff tendonitis were denied. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions that his current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine brace causes wear and tear to his clothing, which qualifies him for a clothing allowance in the amount of $100 per year.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of prostatitis and lumbar spine disability due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their relationship to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities of the back, right shoulder, right hip, left hip, right knee, and left knee. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Veteran's claim for VR&E benefits to pursue a medical career is remanded due to insufficient rationale in the previous decision and need for further evaluation by a vocational rehabilitation counselor.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to his service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder. The issues of a compensable evaluation for the service-connected stab wound scar, service connection for a low back disability, and service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II are remanded.

The Board denied a higher disability rating for the Veteran's low back disability, finding that the evidence did not show forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine at 30 degrees or less, or favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine. The current 20 percent rating is upheld.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left and right shoulders, as well as a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine disability, were denied. The Board found no current diagnoses of degenerative arthritis in the left and right shoulders and insufficient evidence to establish service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various lower extremity and back conditions due to inadequate examination findings, failure to consider all relevant medical history, and lack of VA treatment records postdating February 8, 2018.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all listed conditions, and the Board has dismissed these cases as a result.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraine headaches and TDIU were denied. The rating for migraine headaches was maintained at 10 percent prior to October 16, 2019, and increased to 30 percent thereafter. The Board found that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and a right knee disability, finding that there is no evidence of chronic or long-term conditions during active service or within one year post-service. The Board also found that these disabilities are not related to his service-connected left knee disability.