Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The lumbar spine disability is rated at 10% prior to November 23, 2015 and 20% beginning that date. RLE radiculopathy is rated at 10% prior to November 23, 2015 and 20% beginning that date. LLE radiculopathy has not been service connected.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's lumbar strain disability, finding that the medical evidence did not support such a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the Veteran's right knee condition. The effective dates of service connection have been granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The VA examiner failed to consider the Veteran's contentions about an altered gait and falling, which could cause or aggravate his back issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examiner's opinion regarding the Veteran's back disability and its relation to his active duty service, including multiple in-service injuries.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, finding that it is related to his in-service duties as an embarkation specialist.

The Board has denied service connection for low back, left shoulder, right shoulder, left hip, and right hip disabilities due to a lack of evidence of current disability.

The Board has remanded the claim for further development due to incomplete information regarding the Veteran's education and work experience, particularly during the period relevant to the TDIU claim. The appellant is asked to provide a detailed statement of the Veteran’s business activities and income from these activities in each year between 2008 and 2014.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for prostate cancer and ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure, as these conditions were already established in a previous decision. The cervical spine and low back disability claims are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient notice of a scheduled VA examination for determining the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed low back disorder. The Veteran is required to provide information about any outstanding treatment records, including VA records since March 2020, and must cooperate with the development of his claim.

The Veteran's service-connected undiagnosed skin disorder, manifested by skin flushing, was granted. The issues of increased ratings for generalized anxiety disorder and tension-type headaches, as well as the cervical strain with degenerative disc disease prior to January 28, 2020, and patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee with osteoarthritis remain pending.

The Veteran's claims for skin disabilities of his low back and left leg, as well as psychiatric, eye, kidney cancer, prostate condition, and hypertension have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection is not granted for any of the conditions listed.

The Board has remanded the claims for left shoulder disability, lumbar spine disability, GERD, and cervical spine disability due to incomplete record development. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are not considered in determining secondary service connection.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease and lumbar strain were rated at 10 percent from December 1, 2011 to July 28, 2014. The Board found the current rating adequately compensates for his disability during this period.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for left sciatic nerve radiculopathy has been dismissed. The Board also remanded several other issues related to his back condition and lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's right, left knee, and shoulder conditions are granted as service-connected.,Service connection for rhinitis is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional development and examination, including a VA examination of the Veteran's right TKR and an addendum opinion regarding her back, left knee, and right hip disabilities. The issues include service connection for back disability, left knee disability, right hip disability, and a rating in excess of 30 percent for right TKR.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis or symptoms for cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, skull condition, deviated septum, jaw scar and forehead scar. Therefore, service connection is denied for these conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was granted a 40 percent rating beginning December 12, 2016.,A compensable initial rating for bladder incontinence secondary to the service-connected lumbar spine disability is also granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for various lower extremity disorders, including a low back disorder. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.