Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, low back disability, and skin disability on the head and ears.,There is no evidence to support that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active duty service.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to non-compliance with previous directives and the Veteran's incarceration at a correctional facility. The AOJ is instructed to schedule VA examinations for the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities, tailored to his confinement.

Your claims for lumbar spine, left leg, and right leg disabilities have been granted. The Board does not have jurisdiction over these issues as they are no longer in dispute.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and adjudication due to inadequate medical opinions provided by VA examiners in previous examinations. The Veteran's claims of increased ratings for his service-connected low back disability, lumbar radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and lumbar radiculopathy of the left lower extremity are being remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, including DJD and a fractured coccyx, finding that there was no evidence of such disabilities being related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee conditions, a low back condition (to include as secondary to bilateral knee conditions), and a left shoulder condition. The evidence supports the finding that these conditions are related to active military service.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for low back disability due to deficiencies in the VA examination and lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives. The Veteran's contentions regarding his service-connected injuries are to be addressed by a new VA examiner.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder is rated at 50 percent prior to June 21, 2012 and 70 percent from that date until May 30, 2019. The Board finds the evidence does not support a higher rating during this period.,For his back disability, the Veteran's claim is remanded as the VA examination report did not comply with the requirements in Correia v. McDonald (2016).

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to lack of compliance with previous Board directives. The case is also being remanded for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's cause of death is denied as service-connected disabilities did not contribute to his death. The Veteran was granted special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded due to inadequate spine examinations, specifically lacking passive range of motion testing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is related to his active duty service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis of the spine with IVDS was granted a 40% rating effective from April 17, 2019.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 40 percent, effective from May 6, 2010. Separate ratings of 10 percent are granted for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's spine disorder is rated at 60 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to lack of ankylosis or other factors.,For his pruritis ani with tinea cruris, the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as there are no findings of large or thrombotic hemorrhoids, persistent bleeding, or secondary anemia.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition, effective March 14, 2017. The evidence is in equipoise as to whether her current low back diagnoses are related to her military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a back disability and arthritis (claimed as arthritis in hips and legs) have been denied due to lack of evidence showing that these conditions began during or were otherwise related to his military service.,A compensable evaluation for the midline sternal surgical scar prior to June 25, 2019, is also denied.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral foot skin disorder and a thoracolumbar spine disability, finding no evidence of current disabilities or in-service incurrences.

The Board dismissed all issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to his death.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims, including those for DMII and its secondary conditions. The Veteran's exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune is presumed.