Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition did not manifest in service or within one year of separation and is unrelated to his military duties. The Board also found no credible evidence linking the current condition to service.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent from July 28, 2015 to July 29, 2020. Ratings in excess of this are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to further development being required, including obtaining comprehensive medical examinations and opinions.

The Board has restored the previous disability ratings for chronic right hip strain and lumbosacral strain, finding that the reduction was improper due to failure to consider whether improvement would be maintained under ordinary conditions of life.

The Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for a left foot disability has been granted. Service connection for prostate cancer and lumbar spine disability remains denied.

The Veteran's back disability, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, is considered to have started during his military service. The Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and clarification of medical opinions regarding service connection.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is granted service connection. The bilateral foot and cervical spine disorders are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a VA addendum medical opinion to address whether his low back disorder is related to service-connected disabilities, including his multiple lower extremity injuries. The TDIU claim is also being remanded due to potential Social Security Administration records and the impact of the low back disorder on employment.

The Veteran's low back strain is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has remanded for further development.,The issues of service connection for OSA, headaches, and TDIU have been remanded due to insufficient evidence or procedural errors in previous decisions.,No specific rating was assigned as the appeal remains pending.

The Veteran's spine conditions are being remanded for additional evaluations and consideration of his TDIU claim due to the inextricability between these issues.

The Board denied service connection for right elbow, right shoulder, upper back, and lower back disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for a low back disability due to incomplete development and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional development, including a retrospective medical opinion regarding the Veteran's back disability from December 2013 to January 2020.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, and TDIU due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his sleep apnea and a need for additional examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The decision is based on continuity of symptomatology since separation from service and a nexus to active duty diving duties.

The Veteran's thoracic strain with DDD is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on current evidence.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied because the evidence indicates that he has maintained the ability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation throughout the appeal period.

The Board has granted service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome of the thoracolumbar spine, finding that it is due to active service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's left upper extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.