Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding service connection for low back disability. The Veteran's lay statements and VA examination report are reviewed, and a new opinion is needed from another examiner.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate March 2018 VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's lower back disorder. The Veteran needs a new medical examination to determine if his condition is related to military service.

Service connection for a lumbar spine disability is denied.,Compensable disability rating for sinusitis is denied.,Service connection for PTSD is remanded due to insufficient details regarding the stressor.,Service connection for asthma is remanded due to insufficient details regarding the nature of the condition.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine has not resulted in forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine at or below 30 degrees, which is required for a higher rating. The Board therefore denies a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his military service, including his MOS as a fighter pilot.

The Veteran's low back disability, rated as lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease, is currently rated at 40 percent disabling. The rating has been maintained since January 9, 2020.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete evidence. The Veteran's back disability is being reviewed for its nature, etiology, and service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression), erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy lower extremities disabilities have been remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.,No specific exposure basis was provided in the decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial disability rating for lumbosacral strain and a TDIU rating due to incomplete examination findings. The case is returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathy was denied. The highest rating of 40 percent is assigned for the degenerative arthritis, which does not meet the criteria for ankylosis or other conditions warranting a higher rating.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral hearing loss disability, but denied the claim for service connection for left knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and secondary service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities as due to herbicide exposure and as secondary to a low back disorder, finding that there was no evidence of chronic disability during or within one year after service. The Veteran's in-service injury did not result in any residuals.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 60 percent effective June 1, 2014. The Veteran's thoracolumbar strain is rated at 20 percent from November 2, 2019. Separate ratings of 10 percent are granted for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy. TDIU is also granted.

The Board has granted initial ratings of 20 percent for the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity during the entire appeal period.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's cervical spine disability, which must be reconsidered with consideration of his service history and ongoing neck pain.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is remanded. The Board finds that an additional VA examination is needed to ascertain the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for skin cancer, type II diabetes mellitus, and a heart disorder are remanded due to the need for further development regarding herbicide exposure and possible verification of in-service events. The Board also finds that VA examinations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of any current disorders.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine its relationship to his military service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder and low back disorder are remanded due to the need for VA examinations to determine their nature and etiology.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine is being remanded due to the need for additional evidentiary development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling a VA spine examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee condition, right knee condition as secondary to the left knee condition, and back condition as secondary to the left knee condition. The Veteran's pre-existing conditions were aggravated by his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for low back strain was denied as his condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for low back, left knee, and right knee conditions due to lack of substantial compliance with prior remand instructions.